Omar Pernet Hernandez, Political Prisoner of the Week, 12/17/06

UPDATED Omar Pernet Hernandez was released from prison Feb. 16, 2008, and allowed to take exile in Spain.

Human rights activist and independent librarian Omar Pernet Hernandez, 61, was arrested during the "black spring" crackdown in March-April 2003, and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Like most political prisoners on the island, Pernet has suffered from a variety of health ailments, but that has not softened his opposition to the dictatorship and his commitment to human rights and freedom for Cuba. For example, in 2003, it was reported that Pernet refused "to wear the common criminal uniform. He says that he is in jail because he opposes Castro’s regime, which he says is not a crime."

One of the surest indicators of the repressive nature of the Castro regime is the jailing of more than 300 political prisoners. To illustrate that reality, Uncommon Sense each week profiles one prisoner. There also is a Political Prisoner archive on the left sidebar. To suggest a prisoner for a profile, send me an e-mail.

For profiles of imprisoned Cuban journalists and related information, read the March 18 Project.