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If True, Ikea's Use Of Cuban Political Prisoners to Build its Furniture Would be Yet Another Insult Against Human Dignity & the Cuban Nation by the Castro Brothers, Says Cong. Ros-Lehtinen

Statement

Date: May 4, 2012
Location: Miami, FL
Issues: Business and Consumers Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Foreign Affairs

U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) issued the following statement regarding German press reports that the Swedish furniture giant, Ikea, had used Cuban political prisoners in the latter part of the 80's to construct some of its furniture as part of a deal with the Castro dictatorship.

Statement from Ros-Lehtinen:

"While these allegations are certainly shocking in their total disregard for human dignity and rights, it would not surprise me one bit that the Castro brothers would do this. To use prisoners of conscience as slave workers in the employment of a foreign power is yet another insult against the Cuban nation by the Castro brothers in their quest to perpetuate their illegitimate regime.

I urge Ikea to continue its investigation regarding these serious allegations. All entities, including major corporations, have a moral responsibility to assure they are not used by tyrannical regimes to further violate human rights.

If true, these press accusations are more grievances in a long list of horrors committed against the Cuban people by the Castro brothers."


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