CSW calls for release of jailed Cuban pastors

According to other church leaders, the financial aid has been sent legally by Baptist churches in Florida in the US.

CSW reports that Pastor Ruben Ortiz Columbie and Pastor Francisco Garcia Ruiz were first arrested and detained on 3 October and have been held in prison since then.

According to the human rights group, church leaders have been prevented from visiting the men and their families have only been allowed to see them once for twenty minutes last Friday.

Both the pastors are leaders in the Eastern Baptist Convention, one of the largest denominations on the island. Denominational leaders told CSW that they are shocked and puzzled by the detention of the pastors as the church has been carrying aid work for years, particularly over the last year since Cuba was hit by three major hurricanes.

Pastor Ortiz Columbie, 68, is a Professor of Economics at the Santiago Baptist Seminary and heads up the denomination's
special projects department. Sources within the denomination believe that this work may be behind the two men’s arrest. Pastor Garcia Perez, 46, is director of the denomination’s youth ministries.

CSW said it is calling on the Cuban government to release the pastors.

Tina Lambert, CSW’s Advocacy Director, said: “We demand that the Cuban Government release Pastor Ortiz Columbie and Pastor Garcia Ruiz immediately. These two men were working openly to improve the lives of fellow Cubans living in poverty."

CSW also noted that there has been an increase in reported violations of religious liberty in Cuba since Raul Castro took power in early 2008.

Last month, a comprehensive report by CSW expressed concern at government action against independent church leaders from the fast growing Apostolic Movement, who have been particularly targeted for harassment, detentions and court summons.

On the third week of September, Pastor Mario Alvarez, the Havana-based leader of a church affiliated with Apostolic Movement, was informed by government officials that he would be evicted from his home.

Two other leaders from the Apostolic Movement are currently in prison. Alexi Perez, who oversees a group of around 100 church members at the Apostolic Evangelical Church in San Jose de las Lajas, has now been in prison for almost two months, while Pastor Omar Gude Perez was sentenced to six years in prison in July.

The CSW report said this follows the detention of at least 60 pastors and leaders linked to the Apostolic Movement in May and June.

Ms Lambert concluded: “CSW is also calling on members of the international community to put pressure on the Cuban government to free these leaders and to remind the Cuban government of its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Cultural, Economic, and Social Rights, which it signed in 2008."