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The American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors And Their Descendants has urged Cuban President Raul Castro to release Alan Gross, a Jewish American government contractor, "on humanitarian grounds" after the island's highest court upheld a 15-year sentence. Elan Steinberg, vice-president of the American Gathering, said that Gross had 40 kilograms and "is suffering from serious physical ailments as well as from extreme mental stress and anguish." Moreover, Gross's daughter and mother-in-law are battling cancer.
"Holocaust survivors wish to renew their heartfelt appeal to release Alan Gross from prison on humanitarian grounds and allow him to be reunited with his family in the United States," Steinberg said in a statement. "We request that President Castro consider Gross's health and family circumstances." He said that the 62-year-old was an "active and committed" member of the Jewish community in the United States and had "touched and improved the lives of thousands of people" through his humanitarian projects around the world, from the Middle East to Latin America.
Gross was arrested in December 2009 for bringing satellite phones and equipment to Cuba's Jewish community while working as an independent contractor for a democracy-building program funded by the US Agency for International Development. In its ruling, the Cuban Supreme Court's chamber for Crimes Against the State issued a 'final decision' last Friday rejecting Gross' appeal. The ruling prompted an angry reaction from Washington and fresh calls for the contractor's immediate and unconditional release.
Only Cuba's Council of State, presided by Castro, can now order Gross to be freed. He had been sentenced to 15 years in prison in March for allegedly "endangering the independence and security" of the Cuban state. "While we are not surprised, we are extremely disappointed with today’s ruling,” said Peter J. Kahn, Gross' US lawyer. He added that his client’s family remained "hopeful that there continues to be room for a diplomatic resolution.”
