Number of political prisoners in Cuba rises to 1,066

The human rights organization Prisoners Defenders has been keeping track of Cuban dissidents who have been imprisoned by Castro, Inc.

The number keeps growing, with 37 new imprisonments in January and 11 in February (see chart above).

Prisoners Defenders has denounced Castro, Inc.’s judicial process on behalf of 1,000 Cuban families who have at least one relative serving a prison term for simply expressing political dissent. This denunciation has been sent to the United Nations. Don’t hold your breath waiting for a response.

For the record, Prisoners Defenders lists seven ways in which Castro, Inc. is violating basic human rights. These seven violations are listed below. You can find the whole Fact Sheet HERE and the full report to the U.N. HERE.

SEVEN PATTERNS OF CONDUCT CONTRARY TO HUMAN RIGHTS PERPETRATED BY THE CUBAN STATE AGAINST PROTESTERS

1. EXERCISE OF JURISDICTIONAL FUNCTIONS BY PERSONNEL OUTSIDE THE JUDICIARY

2. ABSENCE OF INDEPENDENT DEFENSE ATTORNEYS

3. ABSENCE OF JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE AND IMPARTIALITY

4. EXPERT AND WITNESS TESTIMONY WITHOUT GUARANTEES

5. ARREST AND PROSECUTION IN THE EXERCISE OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, DEMONSTRATION AND ASSOCIATION

6. INDETERMINATE NATURE OF THE CHARGES AGAINST THE
DEMONSTRATORS

7. SUMMARY TRIALS BY DIRECT ATTESTATION AND PROSECUTION
OF CIVILIANS BY MILITARY COURTS