From our Bureau of Commendable Efforts
As José Daniel Ferrer continues to rot away in a punishment cell without his medications and deprived of visits by his family, a coalition of civil society organizations in Cuba and in the diaspora have mounted an effort to have him nominated for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. One can only hope that this effort is successful. Previous Cuban winners of this prize have been Oswaldo Payá in 2002, The Ladies in White in 2004, and Guillermo “Coco”
Fariñas in 2010.
Loosely translated from Marti Noticias (includes a list of nominators)
Organizations and figures from Cuban civil society, both inside and outside the island, have united to request the nomination of prisoner of conscience José Daniel Ferrer García for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, awarded annually by the European Parliament.
The petition seeks the protection and safeguarding of the leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba, who is currently imprisoned in Mar Verde prison, in Santiago de Cuba, after being arrested on July 11, 2021.
In a letter to Members of the European Parliament, the organizations describe the “urgent situation that requires immediate attention and action.”
“His life is at grave risk due to the conditions he is in and the constant violation of his fundamental rights,” the text emphasizes.
“José Daniel is in a cell, isolated since his imprisonment, as an additional punishment. His isolation includes a lack of family and telephone contact. His family has repeatedly reported his concerning health issues and those that could arise from prolonged solitary confinement,” the signatories state.
Amnesty International, which has declared him a prisoner of conscience, has also denounced the isolation regime he is subjected to, a condition that was evident on July 29 when Mar Verde authorities prohibited him from seeing his family, even though it was his birthday.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, affiliated with the Organization of American States, has also denounced this case. Last May, it stated that the Cuban government has not taken actions to protect Ferrer García’s life and integrity, despite precautionary measures being issued in his favor.
In response to this situation, the Commission adopted a Follow-Up Resolution regarding the political prisoner and warned that he is being held in inadequate conditions.
The petition from Cuba’s independent civil society considers Ferrer García a symbol of defiance, stating that his stance against the dictatorship “embodies” the Cuban people’s longing for freedom, after more than six decades under a tyrannical regime.
“Given this scenario, and recognizing the power of the international community and honorary distinctions to draw attention to critical situations, we respectfully request that you consider nominating José Daniel Ferrer García for the prestigious Sakharov Prize,” the text reads.
“This nomination, even if the prize is not awarded, would not only recognize his tireless struggle for democracy and human rights in Cuba, but it would also serve as an international protective shield, increasing pressure on the responsible authorities and providing a ray of hope that could be crucial in saving his life,” it concludes.
List of nominators follows. Click link above for access to that.