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The Florida Democratic Party has strongly condemned US President Biden‘s decision to remove Cuba from the state sponsors of terrorism (SST) list in exchange for the release of political prisoners arrested during the 2021 protests and urged him to ‘reverse course immediately.’
Nikki Fried, chair of the Florida Democratic Party, issued a statement on Tuesday, saying that although the return of political prisoners from Communist Cuba is worth celebrating, the regime’s treatment of its people remains one of the most significant human rights violations of the past century.
“While any return of political prisoners from the clutches of Communist Cuba is cause for celebration, the regime’s treatment of the Cuban people continues to be one of the biggest human rights violations of the last century.”
Fried expressed skepticism about the negotiated exchange, saying, “It would be naive to think that this negotiated exchange would signal a change in treatment for the Cuban people.”
The Biden administration announced on Tuesday its decision to remove Cuba from the SST list, a designation reinstated during the final days of Trump‘s first term. The administration claimed to have communicated with the incoming Republican administration regarding this change.
Cuban diplomats have actively lobbied for the removal of their country from the list during Biden’s presidency. The Cuban ministry of foreign affairs welcomed the decision but stressed that the economic “blockade” of the island remains in place.
Fried urged the Biden administration to reverse its decision, saying, “We condemn in the strongest terms Cuba’s removal from this list, as well as any possible lifting of economic sanctions, and call on the Biden Administration to reverse course immediately.”
The decision has also faced criticism from Republicans, with senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) calling it “unacceptable on its merits” and pledging to work with President-elect Trump’s team and fellow senators to “immediately reverse” it.
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