Members of the Cuban prisoner aid organisation "Ladies in White" are often the target of the regime's vexations

Santiago de Cuba / Frankfurt am Main (July 22, 2011) - As is currently known, 200 government loyalists of the "rapid response brigade" persecuted members of the the Cuban prisoner aid organisation "Damas de Blanco" ("Ladies in White") with massive violence. At the end of a prayer service, a spontaneous protest march took place and ended in riots. Consequently, many women had to be treated in hospitals. The International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) sharply condemns this total use of violence. "Their prayers were answered - however, through the renewed severe violence of the Castro regime," said ISHR Spokesman of the Board Martin Lessenthin, who added: "This is further evidence that the Castro regime is afraid of the Cuban people - even of harmless and spiritual individuals."

The women, members of various civil rights groups, assembled on July 17, 2011 in the church "Sanctuario del Cobre" in Santiago de Cuba, where a prayer service in support of the Cuban human rights group "Ladies in White" was taking place. After the Mass, 16 of the women organised a peaceful protest march through the streets. According to the information of the ISHR, more than 200 violent-ready members of the "rapid response brigade" blocked the activists and proceeded to punch and kick them. The political police, under the orders of the State Security Chief of the province of Santiago de Cuba, was behind the brutal suppression of the march. Many wounded women had to be taken to the hospital.

Despite the violence, the women refuse to give up their fight for freedom in Cuba and the release of political prisoners. They promise to return to church each Sunday. The ISHR Spokesman of the Board praises their courage: "Their commitment to the demand for human rights, despite the brutal abuse of last week, is truly inspirational for us all. Their experiences confirm why we must continue to struggle for a better future in Cuba."

Demand of the ISHR
The ISHR urgently calls on the German Federal Government as well as the international community to take a harsher stance regarding the Cuban government: "This attack against peaceful women, initiated by the Cuban government, is further evidence of the massive human rights violations of the Castro regime." It constitutes a clear breach of the right to peaceful assembly as codified in Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Cuba signed.

Further information on the human rights situation in Cuba at:
http://www.igfm.de/Kuba.456.0.html