Obama Grant Visas for the Cuban 5 Families

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    President Barack Obama
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    The Popular Education Project to Free the Cuban 5
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Since 1998, Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labaсino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez, and Rene Gonzalez, known as the Cuban 5, have been unjustly imprisoned in the United States for trying to prevent terrorist attacks against Cuba.

Throughout their incarceration the Cuban 5 have been victims of multiple human rights violations. One of the most unjust and inhuman of these violations has been the systematic denial of visitation from their relatives; a basic right of all prisoners. The U.S. government has imposed a number of obstacles and unjustifiable delays in granting visas to their families. Hence, some of the Cuban 5 have only received an annual visit from family.

In the cases of Gerardo Hernandez and Rene Gonzalez, the situation is far more critical, as their wives have not been allowed to visit them in prison so far. Olga Salanueva, Rene Gonzalezs wife has been denied visas to visit Rene based on unfounded arguments and pretexts. According to the U.S. government, Olgas presence in the U.S. is a risk to national security. This argument is absurd because Olga lived in the U.S. for two years and two months after her husbands arrest and was never linked to his federal charges nor was she ever accused of any herself. Also, it makes no sense to deny her a visa on an account of alleged intelligence activity since Rene was never accused of espionage.

In 2002, Gerardo Hernandezs wife Adriana Perez was granted a visa to visit him. When she arrived to Houston Airport in Texas, she was arbitrarily detained, isolated, deprived her of her passport, photographed, and subjected to illegal questioning by the FBI for eleven hours and then sent back to Cuba. She was never allowed to visit Gerardo. Subsequently, Adriana has been denied visas to visit her husband.

The U.S. government asserts that she is a risk to national security. There is no proof or rationale that her presence will negatively impact national security. As with Olga Salanueva, Adrianas name is not mentioned in the accusatory minutes linked to the Cuban 5s charges. If the U.S. government had any evidence against her they could have arrested Adriana the moment she entered U.S. territory, but they didnt.

President Obama, your decision to close Guantanamo Prison and your belief that Cuban-Americans should see their families in Cuba proves you believe in human rights and the reunification of families.

This denial of visas is keeping families apart and is a horrible human rights violation. In order to bring to an end to this flagrant violation of human rights, we ask that you intercede in this matter and grant visas to the families of the Cuban 5 and allow them to see their relatives on a regular basis.

1078 Signatures

  • Steven M
    • Address, zip code
    • Leam Street, CV31 1DZ, UK
  • kevan H
    • Comments
    • Please allow the families to visit there loved ones, it is a basic human right.
    • Address, zip code
    • BL54UD
  • Makis D
    • Address, zip code
    • Sisifou 17 Athens
  • Are Johansen O
    • Address, zip code
    • 7030 Trondheim, Norway
  • Liza O
    • Address, zip code
    • St. Annes Park, Shankill, Co. Dublin
  • Corremans
    • Comments
    • Change !!!
    • Address, zip code
    • Kalmthout - Belgium
  • Can S
    • Address, zip code
    • 08003
  • Carl L
    • Comments
    • Please free these men
    • Address, zip code
    • TR7 1TQ
  • Malgorzata K
    • Address, zip code
    • TW20 9AA 20 Runnymede Court, Egham. UK
  • Ingvar
    • Address, zip code
    • Harevaenget 85 , dk2791 Dragoer Denmark
  • Matilda S
    • Comments
    • I have met Rene's daughter, a beautiful intelligent girl that I would be proud to call my daughter. My heart bleads as it did for Mandela when I think of the precious time with family that has been lost and can never be recovered. Separation from family is a cruel and inhumane punishment for which perpetrators should be brought before the International Courts
    • Address, zip code
    • 21 Hoop Street Citrusdal South Africa
  • Gustavo G
    • Address, zip code
    • Avenue Arnaud Fraiteur, 24, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
  • Mari
    • Address, zip code
    • 120 High St. Auburn, ME 04210
  • leslie f
    • Address, zip code
    • 770 James St., Syracuse, New York 13203
  • Alice O
    • Address, zip code
    • NW6 5BA
  • Jelena S
    • Address, zip code
    • 20 Newton St Alexandria NSW 2015 Australia
  • Zoe S
    • Address, zip code
    • G3 8NH
  • Jennifer B
    • Comments
    • Their incarceration is a disgrace. And when are you going to close Guantanomo like you promised?
    • Address, zip code
    • L8N 2L2
  • Joey G
    • Comments
    • VIVA LA REVOLUCION
    • Address, zip code
    • k0c1p0
  • Alex F
    • Comments
    • The denial of visas to the families of prisoners is not the action I would expect from a country which claims to be a defender of human rights and democracy.
    • Address, zip code
    • 32 Geldeston Road, London, UK, N4
  • Bob F
    • Address, zip code
    • 02135
  • Edip B
    • Address, zip code
    • Tire/Эzmir/Tьrkiye
  • zayid m
    • Comments
    • humanity cries out for justice for the five!...free the five now!...end the blockade!...
    • Address, zip code
    • po bx 25332, newark nj 07101
  • Scot M
    • Address, zip code
    • 8907 Grand Ave 81023
  • Nana H
    • Address, zip code
    • lebanon
  • marios
    • Address, zip code
    • omonias avenue 19, 3052
  • Mark H
    • Address, zip code
    • 5160 Genereux Drive Regina Saskatchewan Canada S4X 4N7
  • eduardo r
    • Address, zip code
    • 2103
  • carl w
    • Address, zip code
    • 11, clarence road, Portland, Dorset, DT5 2BA. ENGLAND
  • Hazel C
    • Address, zip code
    • 14 Mill Farm Drive, Newmillerdam, Wakefield, West YorkshireWF2 6QP
  • ver
    • Address, zip code
    • cyp
  • tuur v
    • Address, zip code
    • Assebroek, 8310 Belgium
  • Carol S
    • Address, zip code
    • 14 Brookdale Avenue, Pinelands, South Africa 7405
  • mr gary & mrs debra g
    • Comments
    • its been too long and too political!!!!!
    • Address, zip code
    • s264nz
  • Ozan t
    • Address, zip code
    • 34840
  • Alma N. N
    • Address, zip code
    • 509 Sagrado Corazon San Juan, PR
  • jeannine m
    • Address, zip code
    • mariannenplatz 18 10997 berlin
  • Cassandra B
    • Address, zip code
    • U.K S42 5DN
  • Charlotte W
    • Comments
    • The case of the Cuban 5 is a gross miscarriage of justice and violation of international law.
    • Address, zip code
    • P.O. Box 261, Leader, SK S0N 1H0
  • Nikoletta
    • Address, zip code
    • Greece
  • Caoimhe G
    • Address, zip code
    • SE6 1DY
  • James H
    • Comments
    • the original charges were unjust
    • Address, zip code
    • 1398 W. El Rio Dr., Tucson, AZ 85745
  • james g
    • Address, zip code
    • br1 5lg bromley
  • Malcolm S
    • Address, zip code
    • 605 w. 111 st. 10025
  • Liocha Sepulveda j
    • Address, zip code
    • vдnortstrеket 51c 2tr 19162 Sollentuna
  • Christiane T
    • Address, zip code
    • Beirut - Libano
  • Herman De L
    • Comments
    • Em.Prof. Ghent Univ. (Belgium)
    • Address, zip code
    • B-9850
  • Julia D
    • Address, zip code
    • 94110