Adolfo Fernández Sainz

Juan Adolfo Fernández Saínz ( born 1946 in Cuba) is a Cuban journalist and dissident who was imprisoned from 2003 to 2010 because of government critical statements and was released on August 19, 2010. Condition for the release was his immediate exit from Spain, which took place a day later.

Activity prior to imprisonment

Juan Adolfo Fernández Saínz worked as a translator for state institutions. He also worked for the unofficial press agency " Patria " in Havana. In particular, he was critical of the government, Fidel Castro and fought for the democratization of Cuba.

Arrest

On March 18, 2003 Juan Adolfo Fernández Saínz as part of the largest wave of arrests ( Black Spring) was arrested in Cuba since the revolution of 1959. In a summary trial he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Basis of the ruling was the law 88 ( Art 6.1 ) to ensure the National Independence and Economy of Cuba.

Conditions of detention

According to his family Juan Adolfo Fernández Saínz did not receive adequate medical care and suffered from, among others, a renal cyst, prostate disease, a herniated disc and arthritis.

The practicing Christians access to Christian literature has also been very difficult.

His family members were only allowed to visit him individually. Due to the distance of 800 kilometers from his hometown of Havana, his family every time considerable travel expenses incurred. Nevertheless appointments were suspended or postponed at short notice.

Campaigns for the release

Since 2006 Amnesty International has operated a large-scale campaign for the liberation of Juan Adolfo Fernández Saínz. In addition, the international journalists Protection Agency reporter sat without borders regularly for him. From Cuba from the wives and mothers of imprisoned 2003 based group Damas de Blanco ( Ladies in White ) fought despite various reprisals by the Cuban government apparatus for the freedom of the journalist and his political inmates.

Release and departure

Fernández Saínz ' release on 19 August 2010 was the result of negotiations with the Cuban government representatives of the Catholic Church and the Spanish government in the spring of 2010, who were admitted to the internationally highly publicized death of political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo. In the same context, the release of the remaining 51 political prisoners still detained from the group of 75 convicted in the spring of 2003, civil rights activists, librarians and journalists has been agreed. So far ( as at 10 December 2010) are 39 prisoners in this group, who had previously declared with an immediate exit from Spain ( accompanied by their family members ) agree in fact been released from prison. Of the remaining 13 who do not want to leave their homes, on the other hand wait until all but one still has repeatedly announced on their release.