Havana - Cuban religious institutions condemned the decision made by the US government to withdraw the status of tax-exempt charity organization from IFCO/Pastors for Peace for not declaring their solidarity shipments to Cuba, the newspaper Granma reported on Wednesday.

We do not understand the situation being faced today by our brothers of IFCO (Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization Pastors for Peace), when the Cuban people have been one of the direct beneficiaries of several donations that have included medical equipment and medicines, among others, they said in an open letter.

The letter, signed by the Federation of Spiritualists of Havana, the Yoruba Cultural Association of Cuba, the Supreme Council of the Abacua Association of Cuba and the Bantu Religious Institution of Cuba, recalls that the links between Pastors for Peace and Cuba date back to more than 30 years ago.

In addition, they expressed gratitude for the solidarity, without any other remuneration than love and friendship, thanks to which Cuban religious institutions, hospitals and schools could exercise their functions in such special conditions as those imposed by the US economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba.

That demand was seconded by other organizations like the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), which recently condemned the measure and called on all friends around the world to join the solidarity support.

We strongly condemned this situation being faced by our brothers, when they have brought donations, medicines to our country and along with our people they have defended the idea that peace and solidarity are necessary in this world marked by war and social injustices, the ICAP said.