Dr. Darsi Ferrer, human rights activist and co-founder of the ISHR-group Cuba, released from prison.

Havana/ Frankfurt am Main (23th of June 2010) - Dr. Darsi Ferrer, human rights activist and co-founder of the ISHR-group Cuba of the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR), is on the loose since the 22nd of June 2010. After 11 months in pre-trial custody and several hunger strikes the doctor could lave the prison in Havana. The ISHR accuses the Cuban dictatorship of delaying tactics. The speaker of the board of the ISHR Martin Lessenthin explained: "With the step by step releasing of political prisoners or improvements of the prison conditions Castro is playing out. But the 200 mostly extremely sick political prisoners don’t have that time."

A court in the Cuban capital condemned the 40 year old doctor Dr. Darsi Ferrer to 15 months in prison and placed the remaining four months on probation. Ferrer is the founder and director of the Juan Bruno Sáez Center for Health and Human Rights, that cares for the medical treatment of poor families and families of political prisoners and that engages non-violently for social and cultural rights on Cuba. On the 9th of July 2009 the human rights activist has been arrested by the secret police because of his commitment and his criticism of the Castro regime. The false pretence was the accusation that Ferrer bought two bags of cement on the black market illegally in order to reconstruct his house that had been destroyed by policemen before.

His arrest had a diplomatic sequel. In august 2009 his wife Yusnaimy Jorge was visited by European diplomats who wanted to set a sign of solidarity with the human rights activist. The Cuban foreign ministry said that this was "an intervention in the domestic affairs of Cuba".

During his pre-trial custody in the prison "Valle Grande" in the west of Havana Ferrer all the time informed the public about the miserable conditions in the prison and demanded a fair judicial proceeding. By protesting against the lacking medical treatment of the prisoners he was on a hunger strike for three weeks.

When he was released from prison, Ferrer was "glad to be back by his family". Simultaneously he promised to continue the engagement for Human Rights. He would only be satisfied when "the freedom and the respect for the human rights of all Cubans will be achieved", emphasized the member of the ISHR. During his custody he protested several times against the undeserving custody conditions with hunger strikes.

At the same time Ferrer appreciated the dialogue process between the Catholic Church and the Cuban government that is taking place for several months. This could be seen as a reaction to the “big crisis” that the island is in. He hopes that his release is a result of the proceedings between church and regime, said Ferrer. Before that the extremely sick human rights activist Ariel Sigler Amaya has been released on the 12th of June ahead of time.

For the Speaker of the Board of the ISHR Martin Lessenthin these concessions are not enough: "It is incredible how long the Cuban government wants to be asked to fulfil the minimum requirement of releasing all political prisoners. Instead of making facts finally, the Castro regime is only making tiny steps to the international community, but expects big concessions at the same time". Lessenthin points to the absurdity of the condemnation of Dr. Ferrer: "In Cuba a life without the black market is practically impossible. This knows the Cuban government. The explanation and the degree of the penalty are therefore politically. The international community shouldn’t accept that a human rights activist like Ferrer who is caring for the medical treatment of the poor people are arrested because of designed accusations for a long time."