by Aaron J Leichman, Christian Post
Posted: Saturday, September 4, 2010, 8:56 (BST)
A Christian human rights group is calling on Cuban authorities to
release a respected church leader who was unexpectedly arrested this
week and taken to a town in Central Cuba, where he is expected to stand
trial.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide is also calling on authorities to drop
all charges against the Rev Roberto Rodriguez, including the charges of
"offensive behaviour" and "threats".
CSW said it believes the charges against the church leader are "false",
based upon the testimonies of those close to him.
According to reports, Rodriguez, who is in his late 60s and in poor
health, became a government target after the organisation he led
publicly withdrew from a government-sanctioned religious umbrella group
in the second half of 2008.
It was later that year that the first charges were brought against
Rodriguez, and though he was given three trial dates over the course of
2009, no trial ever took place. Over the last 21 months, Rodriguez has
been under house arrest.
"The treatment of Reverend Rodriguez and his family over the past 21
months has been disgraceful," said CSW National Director Stuart Windsor,
whose organisation specialises in religious freedom.
"While some heralded the release of some Cuban prisoners of conscience
this summer as an improvement in the human rights situation, the arrest
of Reverend Rodriguez this week demonstrates that the Cuban government
is not interested in real human rights reform," he added.
According to Rodriguez's family, state security officials arrived at
their home without warning on Monday and forced the church leader to go
with them. The arrest was so sudden that Rodriguez was reportedly unable
to take important medication with him.
It is feared that without the medication, the pastor's health will
continue to deteriorate.
"The European Union will be looking at the human rights situation and
reviewing its Common Position on Cuba this month," noted Windsor. "We
call on the EU to make urgent representations on behalf of Reverend
Rodriguez to the Cuban government."
Rodriguez is expected to be put on trial in the town of Placetas
sometime over the next few days.
Prosecutors are reportedly asking that Rodriguez be given a one-year
prison sentence.
http://www.christiantoday.com/article/cuban.church.leader.arrested.on.false.charges/26633.htm
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