The Cuban Commission on Human Rights and National Reconciliation reported June 23 that by its count, there are currently at least 114 political prisoners in Cuban jails, up from 102 at the end of 2013. (Read the list of prisoners here.)
Today and on each of the next 100 days or so I'm going to try to honor these brave Cubans by sharing their names and little about their respective stories. Ever since I started this blog, I have felt it vital to remember their names, names the regime would rather have the world never know. That is the only way to fully grasp the injustices they are suffering.
Today's prisoner is Hector Velazquez Gomez.
Velazquez, an activist with the Patriotic Union of Cuba, or UNPACU, has been, has been in jail since October 2013, when he was convicted of "illegal exit" from the country and sentenced to 4 years in prison, according to the human rights commission.
At the time of his imprisonment, Velazquez was on parole for a previous conviction. The human rights commission said he was sent back to prison because of his work with UNPACU, one of the most active opposition groups on the island.
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