Cuba frees political prisoner, transfers 6 others closer to home in deal with Catholic Church

Cuba frees 1 political prisoner, transfers 6 more

PEDRO BETANCOURT, Cuba — Cuba has freed one of its ailing political prisoners and is transferring six others closer to home in a deal with the Catholic Church.

Freed prisoner Ariel Sigler is one of 75 activists, community organizers and journalists who were arrested in a sweeping 2003 government crackdown on dissident. Sigler is confined to a wheelchair.

He told The Associated Press that he was released Saturday in Pedro Betancourt, his home town in Matanzas province on the island’s north coast.

The government freed Sigler following negotiations with officials from the Cuban Roman Catholic Church and just days before a visit by the Vatican’s foreign minister.