24th December, 2015
Religious freedom advocacy Christian Solidarity Worldwide has welcomed a decision by Cuban authorities reversing an earlier move to expropriate the property of the Maranatha First Baptist Church in Holguin City and allow the church to rebuild on the site.
The church’s pastor, Rev Amado Ramírez Oliveros, was informed in May by local government officials that the property, which has belonged to the church since 1947, was being confiscated. Following an international outcry, government officials said in July that the decision as being reviewed before announcing on 21st December that it had been overturned. Rev Ramírez Oliveros told CSW he thanked everyone for their "support and prayers".
Mervyn Thomas, CSW chief executive, said the organisation was "overjoyed" to learn of the decision and called on the government to take similar action in situations involving Methodist and Assemblies of God churches. He also called on the government to modify a legal degree enacted in January – under which government officials have the power to confiscate property with little recourse for appeal – "so that it is not as open to abuse or used to target church properties".
According to figures obtained by CSW, 15 Methodist churches have been expropriated by the government and converted into a "permanent tenant of the state" since the legal decree was enacted while around 1,000 Assemblies of God churches have been declared illegal including 100 designated for forced closure or demolition.
Mr Thomas said CSW also continued to urge the US and EU to "ensure religious freedom and other human rights are a central part of any dialogue with the Cuban Government".
– DAVID ADAMS
