Source: https://www.abc.es/internacional /   Dissident José Daniel Ferrer García has been in prison in Cuba since October 1, 2019

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

The European Parliament condemned the “arbitrary detention” of leading Cuban dissident José Daniel Ferrer and called for his immediate release.  MEPs also denounce the torture and ill-treatment that Ferrer is reported to have suffered. The government of Cuba immediately lashed back at the majority EU Parliamentary resolution voted on last Thursday, labeling  Ferrer a U.S.-backed counterrevolutionary.  The European resolution was passed by 382 votes in favor, 243 against and 42 abstentions.

“MEPs are greatly concerned about the general human rights situation in the country, including the continuous persecution, harassment, attacks against peaceful dissidents, independent journalists, human rights defenders and political opposition in Cuba. They call for an immediate end to these actions. The current ‘Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement’ (PDCA) between the EU and Cuba includes a provision to suspend the agreement in the event of human rights violations. MEPs therefore urge the European Union to continue following the developments in the country closely.”

-Resolution  adopted by European Parliament November 28, 2019  Strasbourg 

Credit: europeanunion/ Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, gives closing statement on Cuba, the case of José Daniel Ferrer, in Strasbourg Nov. 28, 2019.

“European Parliament, what a shame!”  -Granma 

“The European Parliament yesterday adopted a resolution full of lies, a clear case of interference in Cuba’s internal affairs, reflecting its servility to the United States.  The European Parliament approved, by a majority vote, a resolution full of lies, demanding the “immediate release” of Cuban counterrevolutionary José Daniel Ferrer, a mercenary in the service of a foreign power detained for acts of violence, disruption of the public order, and illegal acts.”

-Granma  ,official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party

Ferrer reportedly smuggled out a letter stating he had been tortured and ill-treated, had his life put in danger while in detention, and had been denied proper medical attention, according to the  European Parliament Resolution.  It further stated that according to information provided by his family on 15 November 2019, he is being held in Aguadores prison in Santiago de Cuba, “where he was taken to a punishment cell; whereas on 7 November 2019, his wife saw him for a few minutes and confirmed that his health was in a critical state given that he had lost half of his body weight, which was also a result of a hunger strike that he had begun.”

 Cuba Accuses Top U.S. Diplomat In Havana Of Illegal Actions With Opposition Groups

Cuba also accused the top U.S. diplomat in the country of working closely with  Ferrer, a well-known dissident who heads one of the country’s largest opposition groups. The  Cuban government made the accusation against U.S.  charge d’affaires Mara Tekach who works in the American Embassy in Havana.  Tekach and the U.S. Embassy in Cuba” have tried to forment division among Cubans, identifying areas of the economy where they can direct coercive measures, and trying to slander and discredit the performance of the Cuban government and Cuban revolution,” a Cuban government statement said.

Ferrer was arrested last month on charges that became clear later and which led the United States, opposition groups and human rights organisations to demand his release, according to media reports.  Supporters of Ferrer said that he was charged with assault and described the case as an invention whereas the Cuban government’s statement indicates that Ferrer was arrested on October 1 along with the 3 other people on suspicion of kidnapping and assaulting another man.