Rights groups worry Trump move will halt Cuba prisoner release

Rights groups expressed worry Tuesday that President Donald Trump's reinstatement of Cuba on a US terror list could halt the release of "political prisoners" that started just last week under a deal with his predecessor Joe Biden.

The Biden administration in its final days removed Cuba from the list, which severely impedes foreign investment, in return for a promise to release 553 people -- including Cubans jailed in a crackdown on rare mass protests in 2021.

Cuba had started freeing prisoners -- some 170 according to NGOs -- including opposition leader Jose Daniel Ferrer.

But on Monday, shortly after his swearing in, Trump reversed Biden's decision in a move slammed by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel as informed by "arrogance and disregard for the truth."

The authorities in Havana have not commented on the fate of remaining prisoners.

The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, based in Spain, in a statement Tuesday expressed "great concern about the possible cancellation, pause or delay of the release of political prisoners in Cuba."

The observatory and other rights groups said there were no reports of prisoners being freed on Tuesday.

Cuban authorities say about 500 people were given sentences of up to 25 years for participating in historic protests in July 2021, but rights groups and the US embassy in Havana say the figure is closer to 1,000.

Some have been released after serving their sentences.

Havana denies holding political prisoners and accuses protesters and critics of being "mercenaries" paid by the United States.