Cuba Drops Charges Against Church Leader

Cuba Drops Charges Against Church Leader
Tuesday, September 7, 2010 (3:33 am)
by George Whitten, Worthy News International Correspondent

HAVANA, CUBA (Worthy News)-- Cuba has released and dropped all charges
of "threatening behavior" against a well-known church after his accusers
gave contradictory evidence against him, a Christian human rights
organization said Monday, September 7.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said Reverend Robert Rodriguez was
freed and is now recuperating at home after being found not guilty.

He was arrested last Monday, August 30, and taken to a town in central
Cuba where he stood trial.

Prosecutors recommended that Reverend Rodriguez be given a 1-year prison
sentence, but following the contradictory evidence given by his
accusers, the Rodriguez family believes the tribunal had no choice but
to find him not guilty. However, the court handed down a fine to the
church leader for reasons that are unclear, according to CSW.

Rodriguez, the former national president of the Interdenominational
Fellowship of Evangelical Pastors and Ministers (CIMPEC), became a
government target when he led his organization to withdraw publicly from
a government sanctioned religious umbrella group in the second half of 2008.

CIMPEC formally withdrew from the Cuban Council of Churches, citing
constant government interference in their internal affairs.

CONTROVERSIAL CHARGES

Christians said the criminal charges against Rodriguez are an attempt to
discredit and silence him. Cuban officials had no comment.

Charges were first brought against Reverend Rodriguez in late 2008 but
no trial date materialized, and he has spent the last 21 months under
house arrest. Meanwhile, his family has suffered verbal and physical
abuse from their neighbors, apparently acting with the support of the
government, and their house has been vandalized, CSW explained.

"CSW welcomes the news that Reverend Rodriguez was found not guilty of
the charges against him," said CSW Chief Executive Mervvn Thomas.

CWS calls on the Cuban government to make restitution to the family for
the damages caused to their house by their now discredited accusers, as
well as being allowed to return to their home with the guarantees of
full protection as is their right as citizens of Cuba.

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