Marcos Maikel Lima Cruz, left, and Antonio Michel Lima Cruz
Cuban prisoner of conscience Antonio Michel Lima Cruz was released from jail this week, but his fellow prisoner of conscience, his brother Marcos Maikel, remains unjustly imprisoned.
The brothers, who had been imprisoned in a work camp near Holguin, were arrested in Dec. 24, 2010, when they took to the streets to protest the Castro dictatorship, complete with Cuban flag, anti-Castro slogans and the music of Cuban rappers Los Aldeanos.
Charged with "public disorder" and "insulting patriotic symbols, Antonio and Marcos were later tried and sentenced to two years and three years in prison, respectively.
The brothers had had a chance to avoid prison and be granted a condition parole, but since they did not consider their protest to be a crime, they refused.
"Amnesty International believes Antonio Michel and Marcos Máiquel’s sentences to be politically motivated, relating to their peaceful exercise of freedom of expression, and disproportionate to the alleged offenses," the human rights group said in March 2012 when it named the brothers as prisoners of conscience.
After his release, Antonio Lima told Radio Marti that he considered the music of Los Aldeanos to be a call for freedom, and that "the beat of music can accomplish many things in Cuba.
Lima also said he hopes his brother will be released by August 2013.
For more on Antonio's release, read the Martinoticias.com story.
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