Cuba completes release of 553 prisoners despite US U-turn on deal
2 weeks, 5 days ago

Cuba completes release of 553 prisoners despite US U-turn on deal

Al Jazeera  

Havana has freed 553 inmates under Vatican-mediated deal, despite Trump’s reversal on US sanctions relief. Havana said in January that with the mediation of the Catholic Church, it had agreed with the Biden administration to release “political prisoners” in return for being removed from the US terrorism blacklist. “Authorities of the Supreme People’s Court of Cuba affirm that these 553 people are already free and that the process has concluded,” the media report said. ‘Political prisoners’ The Biden administration had initially framed the agreement around the release of “political prisoners”, but Cuban officials described the freed individuals as “553 people sanctioned for diverse crimes”. The release comes amid longstanding international pressure from the US, the European Union, the Catholic Church, and human rights organisations for Cuba to free hundreds of protesters arrested during antigovernment demonstrations on July 11, 2021.

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History of this topic

Cuba completes prisoner release deal struck under Biden but rejected by Trump, frees 553 detainees
2 weeks, 5 days ago

Cuba completes prisoner release deal struck under Biden but rejected by Trump, frees 553 detainees

Firstpost  

Despite Trump’s reversal, sporadic releases continued in the following weeks, according to multiple human rights groups. However, Cuban authorities have not yet disclosed a full list of released prisoners Marlon Brando Diaz, imprisoned for his participation in the July 2021 anti-government protests, greets his relatives after being released from prison at the Guinera neighbourhood in Havana on January 16, 2025. …

'Uncertainty never ends' as deal to free Cuba prisoners unravels under Trump
1 month, 4 weeks ago

'Uncertainty never ends' as deal to free Cuba prisoners unravels under Trump

Raw Story  

by Leticia PINEDA Just two weeks ago, Cubans celebrated the anticipated release of jailed protesters in a deal struck under US then-president Joe Biden. But six days later marked the swearing-in of Trump, who swiftly overturned the Vatican-mediated deal after just 192 confirmed releases of people dubbed "political prisoners" by rights groups. The "Todos" platform that collates information from several …

Joe Biden deal: Cuba frees 127 prisoners including Opposition leader Jose Daniel Ferrer
2 months, 1 week ago

Joe Biden deal: Cuba frees 127 prisoners including Opposition leader Jose Daniel Ferrer

The Hindu  

Cuba has freed 127 prisoners including Opposition leader Jose Daniel Ferrer in a landmark deal with departing U.S. President Joe Biden that has led to emotional reunions across the communist island. In return for being removed from the U.S. terror list that includes North Korea, Iran and Syria, cash-strapped Cuba promised to release 553 people — many of whom the …

Cuba releases a prominent dissident as part of plan to free more than 500 prisoners
2 months, 1 week ago

Cuba releases a prominent dissident as part of plan to free more than 500 prisoners

Associated Press  

HAVANA — Cuba on Thursday released prominent dissident José Daniel Ferrer from prison, as part of a government decision to gradually free more than 500 prisoners following talks with the Vatican. Juan Yainier Antomarchi Nunez, center, walks in Havana, Cuba, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, after being conditionally released from detention for participating in 2021 anti-government protests. Share Share Copy Link …

Cuba begins releasing prisoners following Biden announcements
Trending News
2 months, 1 week ago

Cuba begins releasing prisoners following Biden announcements

Hindustan Times  

By Dave Sherwood and Mario Fuentes Cuba begins releasing prisoners following Biden announcements LA GUINERA, Cuba, - Cuba on Wednesday began releasing prisoners jailed following anti-government protests in 2021, making good on a deal with the Catholic Church that prompted the Biden administration to say it would loosen sanctions on the communist-run nation. Hours after the U.S. announcement, Cuban President …

Cuba starts freeing prisoners a day after the US said it would lift terror designation
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Cuba starts freeing prisoners a day after the US said it would lift terror designation

Associated Press  

HAVANA — Cuba started releasing some prisoners Wednesday as part of talks with the Vatican, a day after President Joe Biden’s administration announced his intent to lift the U.S. designation of the island nation as a state sponsor of terrorism. Hours later, the Cuban foreign ministry said the government informed Pope Francis it would gradually release 553 convicts as authorities …

Cuba releases prisoners amid US move to lift terrorism designation
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Cuba releases prisoners amid US move to lift terrorism designation

India Today  

HAVANA: Cuba started releasing some prisoners Wednesday as part of talks with the Vatican, a day after President Joe Biden’s administration announced his intent to lift the U.S. designation of the island nation as a state sponsor of terrorism. Havana did not link the prisoners’ release to the U.S. decision on lifting the designation but said it was “in the …

Biden administration taking Cuba off terrorism list in deal to free political prisoners
Trending News
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Biden administration taking Cuba off terrorism list in deal to free political prisoners

Live Mint  

The U.S. Embassy in Havana. U.S. officials said the decision, which comes less than a week before President-elect Donald Trump?s inauguration for a second term, would lead to the release of?many dozens? Days before President Biden's term ends, his administration said it would remove Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism as part of a deal worked …

US to lift Cuba's terrorism tag in exchange for release of political prisoners
2 months, 2 weeks ago

US to lift Cuba's terrorism tag in exchange for release of political prisoners

India Today  

The Biden administration said on Tuesday it would remove Cuba from its terrorism blacklist, while Cuba said separately it would release upward of 500 prisoners from its jails, dual announcements poised to reshape US-Cuba relations just days before Donald Trump takes office. Biden's announced plans - subject to the review of Congress and the incoming Trump administration - would lift …

Cuba to free 553 prisoners after removal from U.S. terror list
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Cuba to free 553 prisoners after removal from U.S. terror list

The Hindu  

Cuba said Tuesday it would release 553 prisoners in response to an announcement from Washington that it will remove the communist country from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. "An assessment has been completed, and we do not have information that supports Cuba's designation as being a state sponsor of terrorism," a senior Biden administration official told reporters. But …

Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando Álvarez and 18 priests arrive in Rome from prison, guests of Vatican
1 year, 2 months ago

Nicaraguan Bishop Rolando Álvarez and 18 priests arrive in Rome from prison, guests of Vatican

Associated Press  

MEXICO CITY — Nicaragua’s government released a prominent Catholic bishop and 18 other clergy members imprisoned in a crackdown by President Daniel Ortega and handed them over to Vatican authorities who welcomed them in Rome. Bishop Rolando Álvarez and the other clergy were jailed more than a year ago, in most cases, as part of a crackdown on the opposition …

Cuba sanctions nearly 400 people over anti-government protests
2 years, 9 months ago

Cuba sanctions nearly 400 people over anti-government protests

Al Jazeera  

Nearly 300 of those sanctioned were sentenced to between five and 25 years in prison, attorney general’s office says. Of the 381 people sanctioned on Monday, a total of 297 have been sentenced to between five and 25 years in prison for crimes of sedition, sabotage, robbery with force, and public disorder, the attorney general’s office said in a statement …

Amnesty names five new political prisoners in Cuba
5 years, 7 months ago

Amnesty names five new political prisoners in Cuba

Al Jazeera  

Rights group says detentions show not much has changed since Raul Castro handed over power to a younger leader in 2018. Amnesty International named five new prisoners of conscience in Cuba on Monday and said their detention underscored how the presidential handover last year from Raul Castro had not changed the Communist-run country’s repressive tactics. “For decades, Cuba has stifled …

Barack Obama, Raul Castro vow to improve US-Cuba relations
9 years ago

Barack Obama, Raul Castro vow to improve US-Cuba relations

India TV News  

Havana - US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro vowed on Monday to set aside the deep divisions that still exist between the two countries. Obama, standing in Havana's Palace of the Revolution on the second day of his historic visit to Cuba, repeatedly pushed Castro to take steps to address his country's human rights record. "We continue, …

With Obama by his side, Castro denies the existence of political prisoners in Cuba
9 years ago

With Obama by his side, Castro denies the existence of political prisoners in Cuba

Firstpost  

With President Barack Obama by his side, Cuban President Raul Castro on Monday appeared to deny that his country holds any political prisoners. Havana: With President Barack Obama by his side, Cuban President Raul Castro on Monday appeared to deny that his country holds any political prisoners. “Give me a list of the political prisoners and I will release them …

Cuba releasing 3,522 prisoners ahead of pope’s visit
9 years, 6 months ago

Cuba releasing 3,522 prisoners ahead of pope’s visit

Associated Press  

HAVANA — Cuba announced Friday that it is releasing 3,522 prisoners ahead of next week’s visit by Pope Francis, the third time Cuba has granted inmates freedom before a papal trip. Cardinal Jaime Ortega, the archbishop of Havana, said in an interview on Cuban television last week that he had given the government a list of prisoners for possible pardon …

Cuba, U.S. Agree To Prisoner Release Including American Alan Gross
10 years, 3 months ago

Cuba, U.S. Agree To Prisoner Release Including American Alan Gross

NPR  

Cuba, U.S. Agree To Prisoner Release Including American Alan Gross Signaling what could be a major shift in U.S. relations with Cuba, Gross, who has been jailed in Cuba for five years, will be released, while the U.S. will release three Cubans. Today, Cuba released American Alan Gross, whose been in jail there for five years. President Obama talked to …

Cuba to release 2,900 prisoners in sweeping amnesty ahead of Papal visit
13 years, 3 months ago

Cuba to release 2,900 prisoners in sweeping amnesty ahead of Papal visit

Firstpost  

Those to be released included some who had been convicted for crimes against “the security of the state,” but the government spokesman said they were not jailed for political reasons. Cuba will release 2,900 prisoners in the coming days for humanitarian reasons in a sweeping amnesty ahead of a visit next spring by Pope Benedict XVI, the Cuban government said …

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