Cuba to free over 550 prisoners after removal from US terror list
Cuba said Tuesday it would release 553 prisoners in response to Washington removing the communist country from its list of terror sponsors in a deal hailed by relatives of jailed protesters.
The Cuban government announced Tuesday the release of 553 prisoners in response to the United States removing Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. This decision came as President Joe Biden prepared to leave office, marking one of his final actions before Donald Trump assumes the presidency on Monday.
The Biden administration stated the decision followed an evaluation that found no evidence to support Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. The release of prisoners, many of whom are considered political detainees, was facilitated through negotiations involving the Catholic Church.
Among those celebrating the announcement was Liset Fonseca, whose son, Roberto Perez, was sentenced to 10 years for participating in anti-government protests in July 2021. These protests, sparked by blackouts and food shortages, led to mass arrests. While the Cuban government claimed around 500 people were sentenced, rights groups estimate closer to 1,000 were imprisoned, with some already released after serving their terms.
Cuba praised the U.S. decision as a positive step but criticized the ongoing economic sanctions that have been in place since 1962. The foreign ministry confirmed the prisoners being released had committed "various crimes."
Cuban authorities attribute the country’s deepening economic crisis to the U.S. embargo, though experts also cite mismanagement and the collapse of tourism during the pandemic. President Miguel Díaz-Canel described U.S. sanctions as "genocidal" and warned of further economic hardships under Trump's incoming administration.
Trump's previous term saw a rollback of the detente policies pursued by Barack Obama. Biden, who initially signaled a willingness to revisit relations with Cuba, delayed significant action following Cuba’s crackdown on the 2021 protests.
Critics of Biden’s decision quickly voiced opposition. Republican Senator Ted Cruz called the move "appeasement," while Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, echoed his disapproval. Both are Cuban-Americans with strong anti-communist stances.
Meanwhile, Biden’s decision to waive parts of the Libertad Act and rescind Trump-era restrictions on financial transactions with Cuban entities was welcomed by allies, including Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro. Colombia praised Cuba for hosting negotiations that led to the disarmament of the FARC guerrilla group in 2016.
This article was reported by journalist Angelia.