I don't know what they accuse me of, nor do I have a trial date. - Gorki Águila ( Cubanet interview on 10/6/13)
Gorki Luis Águila Carrasco is a Cuban punk rocker and front man for the group "Porno para Ricardo" that translates to "Porn for Richard." His music is loud, fast paced, political, and an anathema for the dictatorship in Cuba.
He has been jailed at different times for hours, days and years. In 2003 the dictatorship accused him of drug trafficking and sentenced him to four years in prison but at his summary trial no evidence was presented to back up the charges of the political police. Gorki is not a drug trafficker.
Free Muse an independent international membership organization founded in 1998 that advocates and defends freedom of expression for musicians and composers worldwide took up Gorki's plight and campaigned for his freedom:
He is "guilty" of saying what he thinks.
He is "guilty" of having both a sense of humor and irony.
He is "guilty" of making music that questions authority.
He is "guilty" of speaking out for freedom.
He is "guilty" of associating with human rights heroes.
He is "guilty" of revealing the truth that the government in Cuba is afraid.
Over the past half century of the Castro regime any one of the above charges was punishable by either long prison sentences or even death. Gorki Águila needs international attention and solidarity to provide protection for his life and freedom. On September 30, 2013 officials arrested Gorki and confiscated medication prescribed to him by a Mexican doctor for epilepsy that the Cuban punk rocker has suffered with since childhood.
The most serious charge facing Gorki Águila of which he is guilty, is being a free Cuban in totalitarian Cuba. That is why people of good will need to demand freedom for him now and demonstrate their solidarity!
Gorki Águila (2010)
Gorki Luis Águila Carrasco is a Cuban punk rocker and front man for the group "Porno para Ricardo" that translates to "Porn for Richard." His music is loud, fast paced, political, and an anathema for the dictatorship in Cuba.
He has been jailed at different times for hours, days and years. In 2003 the dictatorship accused him of drug trafficking and sentenced him to four years in prison but at his summary trial no evidence was presented to back up the charges of the political police. Gorki is not a drug trafficker.
Free Muse an independent international membership organization founded in 1998 that advocates and defends freedom of expression for musicians and composers worldwide took up Gorki's plight and campaigned for his freedom:
Gorki Luis Águila Carrasco is a popular musician in Cuba. In 2003, he had just produced an award-winning video, and a radio station in Havana announced that Gorki was the third most popular rocker in Cuba. Then – at a rock festival in Pinar del Río in April 2003 - he was suddenly arrested on charges of drug trafficking.
Four months later, on 15 August 2003, the controversial Cuban rock artist was convicted and sentenced to four years imprisonment. His constant challenge to free speech in Cuba was silenced. During the brief trial, where Gorki’s attorney did only have ten minutes to present his client’s case, the Counsel for the Prosecution did not present convincing evidence. The circumstances leading to his arrest were such that no evidence of drug trafficking was presented.
In the eyes of the Castro regime, Gorki Águila is guilty of far worse charges.
On October 17, 2003, Freemuse launched an international campaign for the release of Gorki Carrasco, and requested the Cuban government to reconsider the doubtful court case against him.
He is "guilty" of saying what he thinks.
He is "guilty" of having both a sense of humor and irony.
He is "guilty" of making music that questions authority.
He is "guilty" of speaking out for freedom.
He is "guilty" of associating with human rights heroes.
He is "guilty" of revealing the truth that the government in Cuba is afraid.
Over the past half century of the Castro regime any one of the above charges was punishable by either long prison sentences or even death. Gorki Águila needs international attention and solidarity to provide protection for his life and freedom. On September 30, 2013 officials arrested Gorki and confiscated medication prescribed to him by a Mexican doctor for epilepsy that the Cuban punk rocker has suffered with since childhood.
The most serious charge facing Gorki Águila of which he is guilty, is being a free Cuban in totalitarian Cuba. That is why people of good will need to demand freedom for him now and demonstrate their solidarity!
Gorki Águila (2010)
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