Military Service and Religion in Cuba

Military Service and Religion in Cuba / Cuban Legal Advisor, Yaremis Flores
Cuban Legal Advisor, Translator: Unstated, Yaremis Flores

If you want to learn how Cuban laws discriminate on religious grounds,
read the last post published by Cubalex:

Yaremis Flores, Attorney at Law

According to Cuban law, religious belief is not a justification for
avoiding Military Service. Specifically, Circular No. 129 of the
Governing Council of the People's Supreme Court states that "young
members of the Jehovah's Witness sect who are called to active military
service and refuse to perform this duty would be committing a criminal
offense under the existing Criminal Code."

The circular also stated:

1. The policy of sanctions to be applied in these cases should be the
highest possible within the punishment guidelines.

2. Because the accused's membership in this particular religious sect is
not an element of the crime, the judgment should make no reference to
that fact.

3. In cases where the penalty imposed is imprisonment, or correctional
labor with internment, the acronym "JW" should be recorded in the upper
margin of the commitment order that is delivered, in order that the
agencies of the Interior Ministry responsible for carrying out the
punishment will know the status of the punished accused.

According to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
all people are equal before the law and are entitled without any
discrimination to equal protection of the law. Accordingly, the law
should prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal
and effective protection against discrimination on the basis of race,
color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinions, national or
social origin, economic status, birthplace, or any other social condition.

But the distinction made in the previous circular is discriminatory, and
severely punishes people solely because of their religious beliefs.

September 8 2012

http://translatingcuba.com/military-service-and-religion-in-cuba-cuban-legal-advisor-yaremis-flores/