CUBA: Caridad Diego on Government Persecution of Apostolic Movement

For years, churches affiliated with the Apostlic Movement, a
charismatic, evangelical network of churches in Cuba have
complained of persecution and have given evidence of repeated
violations of their religious liberty.

The churches and the network have been denied the right to register
and receive official recognition. One of the main leaders, Pastor
Omar Gude Perez is serving a 6 1/2 year prison sentence on
trumped up charges. Authorities have repeatedly threatened to
confiscate the family's home and goods. Other leaders have reported
cases of harassment, arbitrary detention, confiscation of their homes
and personal or church property. Churches have been completely
demolished without warning while others have been forcibly shut
down.

The Cuban government has not responded to requests for an
explanation and continues to maintain that there is religious
freedom in Cuba.

However, in early 2010, Caridad Diego, the long-time head of the
Office of Religous Affairs for the Central Committee of the Cuban
Communist Party addressed a group of leaders from the
Cuban Council of Churches and openly admitted to the
government's targeted persecution of churches affiliated with the
Apostolic Movement. Some of those in attendance were so shocked
by her admission that they clandestinely filmed her speech.

The video was smuggled out of the country and leaders of the
Apostolic Movement asked Christian Solidarity Worldwide to
make it public so that the world might know, in a government
official's own words, that they are the victims of an officially
sanctioned campaign of persecution.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• CSW
• Christian Solidarity Worldwide
• Cuba
• Religious persecution
• religious freedom