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Save a Cuban mother from an unjust trial
Regions: Cuba
Issues: Freedom of opinion & expression
Tags: Cuba, Freedom of Assembly, freedom of expression, Freedom of Speech, racism
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Iris Tamara Pérez Aguilera, a Cuban human rights activist faces trial on Wednesday August 20, 2008 on charges of with "contempt for the proper authorities." If imprisoned, she will become Cuba's newest prisoner of conscience. She is married to Jorge Luis García Pérez "Antúnez," a former prisoner of conscience who served over 17 years in Cuban prisons for calling for a peaceful transition to democracy.
Iris faces this spurious charge for interceding during a brutal police beating on behalf of the young victim on August 4, 2008 and refusing to pay a 500 peso fine, the equivalent of three months' salary.Iris was violently arrested when she asked the Revolutionary Police officers to stop beating the young man and take him to a hospital as he was bleeding profusely. She was called a "f------ black," and a "black monkey." The officers said that what they needed was "an order to kill all these f------ blacks who stick their noses into everything."
She went on hunger strike beginning on August 6, 2008 for ten days and later submitted a letter signed by 15 other activists to the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Cuba, stating her innocence of any crime, refusal to pay the fine, and demand for a response.
As the local authorities remained silent and her health deteriorated over the course of her hunger strike, she mounted a peaceful protest in Havana's Revolution Square only to again be violently arrested along with the activists supporting her.
She was bundled away to her hometown, and will be put on trial on August 20, 2008. She faces imprisonment despite committing no crime.
You can help Iris avoid unjust imprisonment under inhumane conditions by taking the following actions:
* Write and send your own letter to the addresses enclosed.
* Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language :
• expressing concern at reports that Iris Tamara Pérez Aguilera faces trial on Wednesday August 20, 2008 on charges of "contempt for the proper authorities", and urging the authorities to take immediate action to guarantee her safety ;
• asking the authorities to ensure that all political dissidents engaged in legitimate non-violent activities are permitted to carry out their activities unhindered without fear for reprisals.
APPEALS TO :
Head of State and Government
Raul Castro Ruz
Presidente
La Habana,
Cuba
Fax : +53 7 8333085 (c/o Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
+1 2127791697 (c/o Cuban Mission to UN)
Email : f_castro@cuba.gov.cu
cuba@un.int (c/o Cuban Mission to UN)
Salutation : Su Excelencia/Your Excellency
Attorney-General
Dr Juan Escalona Reguera
Fiscal General de la Rep˙blica,
FiscalÌa General de la Rep˙blica, San Rafael 3, La Habana,
Cuba
Fax : +53 7 669 485
+53 7 333 164
Salutation : Señor Fiscal General/Dear Attorney General
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Sr Felipe Perez Roque
Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Calzada No. 360, Vedado, La Habana,
Fax : +53 7 8333 085
E-mail : cubaminrex@minrex.gov.cu
Salutation : Señor Ministro/Dear Minister
Interior Secretary
General Abelardo Colome Ibarra
Ministro del Interior y Prisiones
Ministerio del Interior, Plaza de la Revolucion, La Habana,
Cuba
Fax : +53 7 8301 566
Salutation : Señor Ministro/Dear Minister