HAVANA, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- A man sentenced to three years in prison in Cuba has been named an Amnesty International "prisoner of conscience," the group said Wednesday.
Amnesty International called for the immediate release of Ivan Fernandez Depestre, 40, described as a political activist.
"The Cuban authorities seem to be using every trick in the book to punish those who dare to speak up about human rights. They are even using a law that punishes potential offenses on account of 'anti-social behavior' to imprison political dissidents, independent journalists and government critics," said Javier Zuniga, a special adviser to Amnesty International.
Fernandez Depestre was arrested July 30 and charged with meeting with "anti-social persons." He was quickly convicted and sentenced to three years behind bars.
Amnesty International said he is now on hunger strike.
