The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has welcomed the release of American Jew Alan Gross from a Cuban jail, where he was imprisoned for just over five years on charges of subversion.
Gross, 65, an American subcontractor for a U.S. Agency for International Development program and an active member of the Jewish community in Maryland, was arrested in 2009 while distributing satellite phones and other banned communications technologies to members of Cuba’s small Jewish community . He was found guilty of “subversion” and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Gross has denied all charges against him. Over his period in Cuban prison, his family repeatedly expressed alarm at the severe deterioration of his health.
He returned home on Wednesday as part of a prisoner exchange that will pave the way for the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Havana and Washington.
Throughout the imprisonment, ADL repeatedly called on the Cuban government to release Gross on humanitarian grounds and urged international leaders to press President Raul Castro to take action.
“We rejoice with Alan Gross’ family and friends at his release from Cuba,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.
“For five long years, Mr. Gross’ incarceration has been used by the Cuban government for political purposes on issues that had nothing to do with him and his alleged activities.”
“Over these years, Judy Gross was an indefatigable advocate for her husband, never letting the world forget about Alan, and we extend our good wishes to Mr. Gross as he rejoins his family and rebuilds his health and life,” he added.
Members of the Jewish community have been vocal in their support of Gross, with five hundred Rabbis sending Cuban President Raul Castro a letter calling his release in 2012. The Anti-Defamation League and other organizations have likewise called on Cuba to send Gross home.
“While I have been prepared to take additional steps for some time, a major obstacle stood in our way –- the wrongful imprisonment, in Cuba, of a US citizen and USAID sub-contractor Alan Gross for five years. Over many months, my administration has held discussions with the Cuban government about Alan’s case, and other aspects of our relationship,” President Obama said in a speech outlining his new Cuba policy.
“Today, Alan returned home –- reunited with his family at long last. Alan was released by the Cuban government on humanitarian grounds” while another American, an intelligence agent, imprisoned for nearly two decades, was also freed in exchante for three Cubans.
“Alan’s release during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is appropriate as Hanukkah celebrates hope at a time of seeming hopelessness,” said Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) in a statement.
“We are grateful to celebrate this ‘Hanukkah Miracle’ with Alan’s wife Judy, his daughters and the entire Washington Jewish community,” said Steven A. Rakitt, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.
“And we are especially grateful to our partner agency, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and its CEO Ron Halber, for tirelessly advocating on Alan’s behalf every day for 5 years. We hope and pray that Alan’s health improves and look forward to personally welcoming him home.”
“We thank the US government for its work to secure his release and all those who advocated on Alan’s behalf through letter campaigns, donating to his legal defense fund established by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington, participating in regular vigils on his behalf and writing to Alan in prison to let him know that he was never forgotten,” the Jewish Council for Public Affairs said in a statement.
The Jewish Federations of North America, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the National Jewish Democratic Council, the Orthodox Union and other organizations that also lobbied on Gross’ behalf thanked Obama for his efforts in freeing Gross.
“We pray for his safe and quick return and a full recovery of his health, which deteriorated during his incarceration including over 100 pounds of weight loss. For this and many other reasons, most especially that his imprisonment was unjustified on all grounds, we welcome his release,” said Conference of Presidents CEO Malcolm Hoenlein.
“The Presidents Conference has long been active in the effort to seek Mr. Gross’s release and petitioned US and foreign governments, as well as Cuban officials, and met high ranking leaders of the Castro government. In this, we worked closely with the Gross family and their attorneys, as well as the Washington JCRC, Jewish Federations of North America, and other groups. His family and friends never lagged in their efforts.”