Caracas, Nov 13 (EFE).- A group of relatives of detainees in a prison located in northern Venezuela held a vigil near the penitentiary center, which ended this Wednesday, to demand the freedom of those considered political prisoners and that -they maintain- can enjoy Christmas with their loved ones.
Through publications in relatives’ walk around the penitentiary center.
The protesters released white balloons, with the names of the detainees and “messages of freedom”, outside the San Francisco de Yare Prison, located in the state of Miranda, and also lit dozens of white candles with which they formed on the floor the word “justice.”
According to the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners, there are more than 300 detainees in that penitentiary center in the context of the post-electoral crisis, after the protests registered in rejection of the official result of the presidential elections of July 28, in which The National Electoral Council (CNE) proclaimed President Nicolás Maduro as the winner.
The largest opposition coalition in Venezuela – the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) – joined the petition of the relatives to demand the freedom of all “Venezuelans who are behind bars for dissenting from the regime of Nicolás Maduro, before and after 28 of July.
“May this Christmas be without political prisoners and may freedom be the beginning of the peaceful change that we Venezuelans decisively chose,” said the PUD in X.
According to the NGO Foro Penal, there are 1,963 “political prisoners” in Venezuela, of which 1,836 were detained after the presidential elections, in which the PUD claims that its candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, won by a wide margin.
Of the total, 69 are minors and are between 14 and 17 years old, according to the organization, which claims to register “the largest number of prisoners for political purposes known in Venezuela, at least in the 21st century.”
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What specific grievances do the families have regarding the detention of their loved ones?
## Interview: Venezuelan Families Demand Freedom for Detainees Ahead of Christmas
Today we welcome Maria Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the families of detainees at a prison in northern Venezuela. Maria, thank you for joining us today.
**Interviewer:**
Maria, we understand that families gathered at the prison recently demanding the release of their loved ones. Can you tell us more about the situation?
**Maria Rodriguez:** Absolutely. As Christmas approaches, families are growing increasingly desperate to see their loved ones released, especially those we believe are political prisoners. We held a vigil near the prison to bring attention to their plight and demand their freedom. Many of these individuals have been unjustly detained, and we believe they deserve to be home with their families during the holiday season.
**Interviewer:** How long has this situation been ongoing?
**Maria Rodriguez:** This has been a long and arduous fight. Many of these individuals have been detained for years without due process. We believe their rights are being violated, and we won’t give up until they are free.
**Interviewer:** What’s the government’s response to these demands?
**Maria Rodriguez:** Unfortunately, the government has been largely unresponsive to our pleas. We are calling on them to show compassion and release these individuals who pose no threat to society. We urge them to prioritize justice and family unity this Christmas.
**Interviewer:** Is there anything else you would like to add?
**Maria Rodriguez:** We are simply asking for our loved ones to be treated fairly and with dignity. We believe in the power of peaceful protest and hope that the government will listen to our pleas. We won’t stop fighting until we see our loved ones freed.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Maria, for sharing your story and your hope.
