Cuban Foreign Minister Denounces False Accusations Against the Island

HAVANA, Cuba, May 16 (ACN) Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez denounced the slanderous statements in the recent State Department report aimed at discrediting the island.

On Twitter, the Foreign Minister affirmed that religious freedom is recognized, respected and guaranteed in Cuba.

With these falsehoods, they seek to justify the inhumane measures of the U.S. blockade that violate the human rights of our population, Rodríguez Parrilla wrote in his message.

"In #Cuba religious freedom is recognized, respected and guaranteed. The slanders of the recent State Department report seek to discredit our country, with the interest of justifying the inhumane US blockade measures that violate the HR of our population."

The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, presented this Monday the Report on International Religious Freedom corresponding to 2022 where he accuses Cuba of violations to religious freedom.

According to the document, the new penal code contravenes the religious guarantees granted by the Cuban constitution, and denounces persecutions and repressive tactics by the State against religious leaders and activists in the country.

In December of last year, the United States included Cuba and Nicaragua on its blacklist of countries that systematically violate religious freedom as "Countries of Particular Concern".

The Constitution of the Republic of Cuba establishes as a responsibility of the State, the recognition, guarantee and respect for religious freedom, as well as institutes that the different beliefs and religions enjoy equal consideration.

It also defines the most absolute separation between the Church and the State, whose secular character has allowed it to consolidate the guarantees for the full exercise of religious freedom.

Likewise, the Constitution outlaws conduct related to any type of discrimination based on religious beliefs.