Cuba must release graffiti artist jailed for painting Castros’ names on pigs’ back

Cuba must release graffiti artist jailed for painting Castros’ names on
pigs’ back
29 September 2015, 14:50 UTC

A Cuban graffiti artist who has been unfairly held in prison for nearly
a year after he painted “Raúl” and “Fidel” on the backs of two pigs has
been named as a prisoner of conscience, said Amnesty International today
as it called for his immediate release.

Danilo Maldonado Machado, known as ‘El Sexto’, was accused of
“disrespecting the leaders of the Revolution” and sent to prison after
officers opened the taxi’s boot and found the two pigs. Danilo intended
to release them in an art show on Christmas Day.

“To jail an artist for painting a name on a pig is ludicrous. Cuban
authorities are using any cowardly excuse to silence Danilo and send a
message to others that any criticism of the government and its officials
will not be tolerated,” said Carolina Jiménez, Americas Deputy Director
for Research at Amnesty International.

To jail an artist for painting a name on a pig is ludicrous. Cuban
authorities are using any cowardly excuse to silence Danilo and send a
message to others that any criticism of the government and its officials
will not be tolerated
Carolina Jiménez, Americas Deputy Director for Research at Amnesty
International.
“What this story shows is that while Raúl Castro shakes hands with the
world in his historic visit to the USA, things have hardly changed in
Cuba, where people are still being thrown in jail solely for peacefully
exercising their right to freedom of expression.”

Danilo was arrested by agents of the political police (Seguridad del
Estado) in Havana while travelling in a taxi on 25 December 2014 and has
been in prison ever since. He recently began a hunger strike and has
been moved to an isolation cell.

“Danilo is a prisoner of conscience who should have never been put in
prison in the first place. He must be released immediately and
unconditionally,” said Carolina Jiménez.

Source: Cuba must release graffiti artist jailed for painting Castros’
names on pigs’ back | Amnesty International –
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/09/cuba-must-release-graffiti-artist-jailed-for-painting-castros-names-on-pigs-back/