Human rights group wants Cuban gov‘t to halt repression

A leading human rights group in the United States is urging the Cuban government to immediately halt repression aimed at silencing dissents before and during Pope Benedict the sixteenth’s visit to the Spanish-speaking Caribbean country.



Human Rights Watch says dissidents in Cuba have accused the Cuban government of using repressive tactics.



According to the group, the dissidents have said they have been beaten or detained when they sought to exercise their basic right to speak up about human rights concerns and hold rallies over the past few weeks.



The Pope is scheduled to be in Cuba this week to visit Havana and Santiago de Cuba.