Cuba’s communist dictatorship received a rare rebuke from Spain, one of its most faithful allies in the free world. Although Spain, which has billions invested in Cuba, usually goes out of its way to protect and support the Castro regime to safeguard its investment, a razor-thin vote in the Congress of Deputies pushed forward a resolution condemning the island’s totalitarian dictatorship for its human rights abuses.
With 18 votes in favor and 17 against, the Spanish Congress of Deputies approved a resolution condemning the human rights violations in Cuba and the slavery-like practices in the medical missions of the Havana regime. Prisoners Defenders reported that the proposal, driven by the Popular Parliamentary Group, was approved by a total of 35 votes, 18 in favor and 17 against, with no abstentions.
The resolution text encompasses five demands, including the condemnation of abuses and violations of human rights on the island and an end to the policy of repression, particularly in a context where popular protests are anticipated due to the unbearable energy crisis that leaves Cubans with more than 20 hours of power outages daily.
The document also expresses concern over the rising number of political prisoners and calls for their immediate release. “Since the events of July 11, all detainees without judicial oversight were eventually brought before the judiciary, months or years later, and were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 1 to 30 years in the first instance. Regarding this situation, on February 29, 2024, the European Parliament approved Resolution P9_TA (2024)0122 on the ‘critical situation in Cuba’ concerning freedoms and rights, such as ideological freedom, religious freedom, security, free movement, freedom of expression, etc.,” the text emphasizes.
The resolution also condemns the labor conditions promoted by the Cuban regime for its workers and civilian collaborators abroad. “The Cuban regime has managed to extend its limitations and violations of the rights and freedoms of its professional civilian personnel, such as doctors, sailors, teachers, artists, or athletes, among many others, providing services to third parties abroad through the state or its companies,” it underscores.
Additionally, it calls on Cuban authorities to facilitate the return to Cuba of people in exile and professionals and citizens who are not allowed to reunite with their families. The proposal does not make any political judgment on the domestic or foreign policy of the Spanish government, aiming to seek consensus among democratic political forces, highlighted Prisoners Defenders, which collaborated with the team that drafted the resolution.
While the resolution will do little to change the Spanish government’s coddling of the Castro dictatorship, it is hopefully a sign that things may be changing in the near future.