In solidarity with protests voiced by IFLA and influential personalities of public life, the Polish Librarians Association is expressing deep concern for the events of sentencing several Cuban librarians to serve exceptionally lengthy prison terms for the charge of organizing independent libraries. The actions of the Cuban authorities relate to the worst traditions of repressing the freedom of thought, expression and information exchange, exercised by all regimes throughout the history. These repressions are a violation of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of December 10,  1948, which states:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless frontiers."

The measures of the Cuban government are aimed not only against the persecuted librarians, but also against users, whose access to alternative media and publications thus becomes constrained. Shutting independent libraries impoverishes the cultural life of the Cuban Nation, which it is guaranteed by Paragraph 1 of Article 27 of the above Declaration:

"Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits."

The Polish Librarians Association is appealing for uniting the efforts of all individuals and organizations, which treasure freedom of expression and intellectual independence.

Therefore:

• We are demanding the release of our fellow Cuban librarians!
• We are reminding you that the imprisonment of intellectuals is a disgrace to the original ideas of the Cuban revolution!

The Presidium of the Main Management of the Polish Librarians Association

^{Translated by Marta Sobieszek}