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From the Free Cuba Foundation:

Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet is seriously ill and suffering from chronic gastritis and hypertension. The conditions in which he is serving his 25 year prison term -imposed after an unfair trial in 2003 for his non-violent advocacy of human rights - are deteriorating.

Prison officials recently informed his family members that they are punishing him for his peaceful protest of prison conditions and threatened that those conditions could get worse.

Dr. Biscet is one of 75 human rights activists and independent journalists sentenced in the spring of 2003 to prison terms of up to 28 years.

Throughout much of his time in prison, Dr. Biscet has been held in sub-standard punishment cells, often in solitary confinement or with violent criminals. For long periods of time, he has been deprived of any outside communication, visits or vital medications sent by his family.

He is currently being held in a windowless cell which lacks adequate water and from which he is infrequently taken outside.

Dr. Biscet's harsh prison conditions have further aggravated his poor health and at one point last year, he was reported to have lost more than 60 pounds. Cuban authorities should unconditionally release this peaceful human rights defender and all those imprisoned for the non-violent expression of their beliefs.

To-date, the Cuban government has released 15 prisoners on medical parole. Your letters of concern do make a difference.

Click here to take action by sending a letter to:

Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores Felipe Perez Roque
Mr. Dagoberto Rodriguez Barrera
Permanent Representative to the U.N., New York Orlando Requeijo Gual