Prison sentences imposed after mass protests in Cuba

By ibadmin  | Date: June 13, 2022

Released on 14.11.2022

• In July 2021 there were spontaneous mass protests in Cuba. Photo: Ismael Francisco/AP/dpa

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Thousands of Cubans went on . July 2021 on the streets to demonstrate against the socialist government. Many of them have now been sentenced to long prison terms.

Havana.

Around eleven months after mass protests in Cuba, according to government figures 381 People have been convicted in court - sometimes with decades of imprisonment. 297 of them received prison sentences, said the Attorney General of the Caribbean state.

Alone 30 accused were because of riot sentenced to 5 to 15 years imprisonment. The other allegations included sabotage, robbery, assault, disrespect for authority and public disorder. According to the information provided, among those convicted were 15 young people between the ages of 16 and 18 years, of which 15 alternative penalties to imprisonment, such as detention.

At the spontaneous mass protests on 11. July - the largest against the socialist government in decades - had been demonstrated in several cities for freedom and against repression and mismanagement. Videos mostly showed peaceful demonstrations, which the security forces violently dispersed. The authoritarian government portrayed the demonstrations as a US-led assault on the constitutional order and stability of the state. According to activists, there were more than 1400 Arrests.

The Attorney Generals Office had in January on court cases against 381 Defendants informed, including 36 between 16 and 18 years. In March, the Supreme Court said 127 people were serving prison sentences of between 6 and 30 years. According to activists, the trials are taking place behind closed doors.

The EU called on the Cuban authorities in March to "remove all political prisoners and those arrested solely for exercising their right to peaceful assembly and free speech were imprisoned". In recent months, many Cubans have left the country for the United States. (dpa)