A planned trip to Cuba this week by a U.S. religious freedom watchdog group has been canceled after the Cuban government did not issue visas to delegation members, the group said Monday, even as the Obama administration moved to ease sanctions on the communist nation.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said it had been forced by the lack of visas to call off the fact-finding visit that had been scheduled to run from Tuesday to Thursday. It said the visas had been applied for weeks earlier, and it received no explanation for why they were not granted.
"We are very disappointed by the Cuban government's refusal to allow an official U.S. delegation to investigate firsthand Cuban citizens' freedom to believe and practice their faith on the island," said commission chairwoman Felice Gaer, noting that China, Vietnam, Laos, Saudi Arabia and other countries had allowed visits. "Does the Cuban government have something to hide?"
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By Matthew Lee, Associated Press
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