Dissident released from prison

Human rights activist Virgilio Mantilla Arango was released from prison earlier this week, more than six years after he was arrested and convicted of "disrespecting" Fidel Castro and other charges.

Mantilla was one of 10 dissidents arrested in March 2002, after they started a demonstration at a hospital in Ciego de Ávila. They had gone there to visit independent journalist Jesús Álvarez Castillo, who reportedly had been attacked by police earlier in the day.

In addition to the "disrespect" charge, Mantilla was convicted of "resistance," "disobedience" and "public disorder," and sentenced to 7 years in prison.

Details of Mantilla's release were not available, but even if you count back to when he was arrested, Mantilla was released before the completion of his sentence. Which means the dictatorship only followed its own laws, which allow for parole, even for political prisoners.

Mantilla was Uncommon Sense's Political Prisoner of the Week for Sept. 9, 2007.