José Antonio Torres

Jose Antonio Torres

Detained Since: February 8, 2011.

Charges: Espionage.

Sentence: 14 years in prison.

Biography: José Antonio Torresis a former a correspondent for the government newspaper, Granma, in Santiago, Cuba's second largest city. Torres was arrested in February 2011 after writing an article that was published in July 2010 about the mismanagement of a Santiago aqueduct project and the laying of a fibre-optic cable from Venezuela. For his critical take on the projects, Torres was sentenced in July 2011 after a closed trial to 14 years in prison for espionage. In addition his university degree in journalism was withdrawn. According to Reporters Without Borders, Cuba's state-run media has made only a few brief references to Torres and little is known about the espionage charges. There are rumors that he may have offered confidential information to the U.S. diplomatic mission in Havana.

Advocacy Partner:Reporters Without Borders

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Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
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