IACHR warns about expansion of capital punishment in Cuba
The body said ambiguous rules can endanger fundamental freedoms and reiterated its opposition to the punishment.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights expressed concern about retention and expansion of the death penalty in Cuban law. The body raised the issue during its 197th session in Panama City and warned that some criminal provisions can endanger fundamental freedoms. Its alert addressed both the punishment's scope and wording of the rules.
Criminal offenses eligible for capital punishment in Cuba increased from 20 to 24, according to released legal data. The IACHR questioned both retention and extension to more cases. The increase expands offenses subject to the maximum penalty while the Commission also focused on how certain provisions are drafted.
The Commission warned that ambiguous wording can expose people to punishment for exercising rights and freedoms. It cited expression, assembly, association and political participation. The concern connects the design of criminal provisions with room to exercise those freedoms, not only application of capital punishment.
The IACHR reaffirmed its support for abolishing the death penalty. That position accompanies its objection to the punishment remaining in force and applying to more offenses. The Commission rejected both retention and the described expansion.
The body also repeated its call to release people deprived of liberty for political reasons. That demand accompanied concerns about capital punishment and freedoms of expression, assembly, association and political participation.