United States Agency for Global Media

Radio and TV Martí welcome the release of Cuban activist Jose Daniel Ferrer

April 3, 2020

Washington, D.C. — The Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB)’s Radio and TV Martí welcome today’s overdue news that the brave voice of freedom, Jose Daniel Ferrer, has been released from confinement by Cuban authorities. Fittingly, Ferrer’s first interview was with Radio Martí and took place moments after his release.

Ferrer, leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), thanked Radio and TV Martí for lending its voice to the international chorus condemning his unjust treatment: “They have been thinking about this for a while. They were looking for a way to get out of all of this international pressure. I wanted to tell you that without the support and solidarity of many brothers in arms and you, and other press organizations as well as human rights groups, I would not be speaking to you. I would be dead. That’s not an exaggeration.”

During the Radio Martí interview, Ferrer vowed to continue his efforts, labeling it “a sacred mission.”

Since Ferrer’s arrest on October 1, 2019, Radio and TV Martí have exhaustively covered his arbitrary detention. He was declared a political prisoner by the State Department and a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. Amnesty’s Erika Guevara-Rojas told Radio and TV Martí Ferrer was jailed due to his political ideas.

The European Union (EU) expressed grave concern about his detention. Amnesty International and EU delegations tried to attend his trial in Santiago de Cuba but were not granted permission. The U.S. government, U.S. members of Congress, the international community and Cuba’s independent press and civil society were united in one voice against his arrest, incarceration, and trial.

Acting OCB Director Emilio Vazquez praised the network’s coverage and impact, saying, “I am extremely proud to be leading the professional journalists who work at Radio and TV Martí and dedicate themselves daily to the mission of a free Cuba. We join people all around the world in celebrating Jose Daniel Ferrer’s release from prison. We also echo the words of the United States Embassy in Cuba in calling for the Cuban authorities to drop all charges and give him unconditional freedom.”

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