A persecution watchdog has called into question charges of “illicit economic activity and falsification of documents” brought against a Cuban pastor.

Pastor Omar Gude Perez also stands accused of “counter-revolutionary conduct and attitudes”. A state prosecutor is asking that the pastor be handed a seven year prison sentence.

Pastor Perez’s family, however, believe he is the victim of persecution, targeted for his leadership of the rapidly growing Christian movement, Apostolic Reformation.

The pastor has been in prison without trial for nearly a year after he was detained by Cuban authorities for “human trafficking”. The charges were thrown out by a local court that said there was no evidence to support them but the case has now been referred to Havana and the family was informed last week of the latest charges.

His wife says the family received threats and warnings from government officials to scale back their religious activity for months prior to Pastor Perez’s detention.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide says reports of religious liberty violations have been on the up since Raul Castro came to power in early 2008.

According to CSW, another pastor and denominational leader, the Rev Roberto Rodriguez, is also facing criminal charges. CSW believes the charges are connected to his denomination’s withdrawal from the Cuban Council of Churches in autumn last year.

The Rev Stuart Windsor, National Director of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, said, “The imprisonment of Pastor Gude Perez is a clear case of religious persecution and is part of a larger crackdown on religious groups in Cuba.

“We call on the Cuban authorities to release him immediately and, in line with the protections laid out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which it signed last year, to guarantee the right to religious freedom for all groups.”