Omar Ruiz Hernández Explained

Omar Moisés Ruiz Hernández (born November 16, 1947^[1]) is a Cuban journalist. Amnesty International declared him as an international prisoner of conscience after he was imprisoned in 2003 during a crackdown on dissidents.^[2] He worked for dissident press agency Grupo de Trabajo Decoro (Decoro Working Group) before sentenced to 18 years in prison.

He has been vice delegate of the unofficial Partido Solidaridad Democrática (Democratic Solidarity Party) in Villa Clara.^[2]

He is an Honorary Member of Swedish PEN Centre.^[3]

He is believed to have endured maltreatment such as solitary confinement, being held in punishment cells and harassment.^[3] The Inter American Press Association reported in 2007 that he had tuberculosis and a chronic parasitic infection, and weighed only 45 kilograms (about 100 pounds).^[4]

External links

• Profile at Payolibre.com
• Profile at Directorio.org
• International PEN campaign

Notes and References

1. http://www.payolibre.com/PRESO-%20Omar%20Ruiz.htm Profile
2. Web site: Cuba: One year too many: prisoners of conscience from the March 2003 crackdown. Amnesty International. 16 March 2004.
3. Web site: Cuban cases. International PEN. 27 August 2009. 16 October 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20091016072318/http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/go/freedom-of-expression/campaigns/freedom-to-write-in-the-americas/cuban-cases. dead.
4. Web site: IAPA condemns inadequate health care for independent journalists jailed in Cuba. Inter American Press Association. June 29, 2007. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110719231608/http://www.sipiapa.org/pressreleases/srchcountrydetail.cfm?PressReleaseID=1935. July 19, 2011.