Spain court dismisses Bay of Pigs war crimes complaint against Castro News
Spain court dismisses Bay of Pigs war crimes complaint against Castro

[JURIST] The Spanish National Court Thursday dismissed a complaint against Cuban President Fidel Castro [BBC profile] and former Cuban tourism minister Osmani Cienfuegos, alleging that the two had committed crimes against humanity. The complaint alleged that Castro and Cienfuegos were responsible for the death of nine prisoners during the 1961 anti-Castro Bay of Pigs Invasion [JFK Library backgrounder]. The court held that Castro enjoys sovereign immunity from claims as head of state, despite having ceded power to a provisional government after undergoing emergency surgery in July.

The complaint, submitted by the Committee of Help to Dissent 2506 [advocacy website, in Spanish], generally accused Castro and Cienfuengos of genocide, terrorism, and torture. AP has more. ANTARA News has additional coverage.