By BosNewsLife Americas Service
HAVANA, CUBA (BosNewsLife)– Cuban Pastor Omar Gude Perez, who was jailed on “trumped up charges” for leading a major network of independent churches, has so far been denied a visa to leave Cuba to seek asylum in the United States, a Christian rights group confirmed to BosNewsLife Thursday, January 19.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said the refusal comes “despite verbal assurances from Cuban authorities that his application would be approved.”
Pastor Gude Perez’s wife and two children were already given exit visas, or “white cards”, as they are called in Cuba, but they have refused to leave the Communist-run island without him amid concerns that delays in the pastor’s visa application “may lead to a long-term separation,” CSW explained.
The family was seperated before when the pastor, who leads the Apostolic Movement, served almost three years of a six-and-a-half year prison sentence on what CSW called “trumped up charges”.
“DOCUMENTS FALSIFICATION”
These charges included the “falsification of documents” amid accusations that he had “illegally” taken his stepfather’s surname.
Eventually, official records revealed that Perez’s legal surname was indeed Gude Perez, contradicting the court ruling that led to his conviction, Christian trial observers said.
His release, amid international pressure, was subject to certain conditions, included the prohibition from preaching or from travelling outside the city of Camaguey.
Since the family was granted asylum by the US in July 2010, they had to wait several months for their exit visas to be approved, CSW said, adding that they were subject to “contradictory messages from the authorities on whether the family will be able to leave Cuba together.”
“DEEPLY CONCERNED”
CSW’s Advocacy Director Andrew Johnston told BosNewsLife that his group is “deeply concerned at the failure of Cuban officials to honour verbal assurances to grant Pastor Omar Gude Perez an exit visa.” He said his group, who has been investigating the case, has urged Cuba’s government “to honour its promise” and that “the family can begin a new life in the United States together without any further delay.”
Perez’ Apostolic Movement is a non-denominational, Charismatic, Protestant network of church groups which are outside of the traditionally recognised Christian denominations in Cuba. CSW said it has documented what it called “intense government persecution” of church leaders linked to the network over the past three years.
Cuban authorities have denied wrongdoing and the existence of political or religious “dissidents” saying many are either mercenaries of the United States or charged with other criminal offenses.
