A Cuban evangelical pastor must complete his six-year prison sentence after the Supreme Tribunal in Havana denied the right to appeal.

Pastor Omar Gude Perez is a leader of the growing Apostolic Reformation, a network of independent churches that has seen considerable growth in Cuba. He was tried and convicted last year of “falsification of documents” and “counter-revolutionary conduct and attitudes”. Christian Solidarity Worldwide said the charges brought against him were “trumped up”.

Pastor Gude Perez had been charged the year before with human trafficking, but was cleared by a local court ten months later due to lack of evidence.

His wife told CSW that the court’s refusal to grant an appeal this time had only confirmed her belief that the arrest and imprisonment of her husband was orchestrated at the highest levels of government.

CSW said at least thirty church leaders from the Apostolic Reformation were arrested and detained across Cuba last year, with several reporting that the authorities had threatened to confiscate their homes. Pastor Mario Alvarez is one church leader who has appealed to the Supreme Tribunal to block what he believes is the illegal confiscation of his home.

Mervyn Thomas, CSW’s Chief Executive, said he was “extremely disappointed” with the court’s ruling.

“The number of church leaders arrested recently clearly indicates a government policy to crack down on this independent religious group,” he said.

“We urgently call for the immediate release of Pastor Perez and strongly urge the Cuban government to stop legal harassment of the leadership of the Apostolic Reformation.”