Cuban Pastor Receives Asylum in United States as State Interference in Church Affairs Continues

By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

SURREY, ENGLAND (ANS) -- Cuban pastor and denominational leader Carlos Lamelas flew to Florida, along with his wife and two daughters, after being granted asylum by the United States government.

Carlos Lamelas

According to a news release from human rights organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), the former president of the Church of God in Cuba denomination had been imprisoned for four months in 2006, and was prohibited from working legally after his release.

CSW said Lamelas was originally detained in Feb. 2006 and charged with human trafficking. His home and most of the family's belongings were confiscated by the government. CSW believes Lamelas was targeted because of his public criticism of government interference in internal religious affairs during his time as leader of the Church of God denomination. 

CSW said he was released in June 2006 after a massive international campaign, but the charges were not dropped. In Dec. 2006 he was put on trial. However, the state prosecutor failed to appear and he was found innocent. 

Despite the positive verdict, CSW said, the family home and belongings were not returned. For the past five years they have lived in cramped conditions in the one bedroom apartment of Lamelas' elderly parents in Old Havana.

Because of the work prohibition, CSW said, Lamelas and his wife depended mainly on support from family and friends.

Since Lamelas' detention, CSW said its sources in Cuba have reported a change in tactics by the authorities from overt forms of persecution, such as the destruction of churches and lengthy prison terms, towards short-term detentions and the more targeted harassment of pastors.

CSW said it believes this is an attempt to deflect international attention from the ongoing harassment of pastors.

CSW said there are also consistent reports from pastors of all denominations of government interference in church affairs, and official pressure being brought to bear against church leaders who refuse to expel families of political prisoners from their churches.

Methodist Pastor Yordi Toranzo was recently removed from his position by the Methodist Bishop Ricardo Pereira Dias because of his refusal to deny pastoral support to human rights activists and members of the political opposition.

Andrew Johnston, CSW advocacy director said in a news release, "We are relieved that the Lamelas family will finally be able to carry on with their lives free from government harassment. It is unacceptable, however, that this was only made possible by leaving the country. We know that the decision to leave their country was not made easily, and their departure is a great loss for Cuba."

He added, "CSW continues to call on the Cuban government to cease its interference in the activities of religious organizations, and to cease its persecution of those who promote religious freedom."

CSW is a Christian organization working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.

For further information, go to www.csw.org.uk.

Jeremy Reynalds is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, a freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter,http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "Homeless in the City."


Additional details on "Homeless in the City" are available at http://www.homelessinthecity.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds atjeremyreynalds@comcast.net.