By Ingrid Bachmann
Amnesty International reported that Cuba's repressive legal system has resulted in an atmosphere of fear for journalists, dissidents and activists, "putting them at risk of arbitrary arrest and harassment."
The London-based NGO also called on the international community to demand Havana enact legislative changes to protect freedom of expression, explained AFP and ANSA.
“The laws are so vague that almost any act of dissent can be deemed criminal in some way, making it very difficult for activists to speak out against the government. There is an urgent need for reform to make all human rights a reality for all Cubans,” said Kerrie Howard, Deputy Americas Director at Amnesty International.
In its report Restrictions on Freedom of Expression in Cuba, the NGO recounts how authorities restrict the media's access to information and prosecute any critics of the government. According to the report, in Cuba there are 53 prisoners of conscience.
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
