Alan Phillip Gross
Encyclopedia
Alan Phillip Gross is an American social worker and international development
professional. In 2011 he was detained and prosecuted while in Cuba
, where the state currently claims that he was acting on behalf of the US government as part of a destabilization campaign to "topple" the Cuban Revolution
. The official story in the US, as reported by the Miami Herald, is that Gross was only on the island to provide "unfiltered" internet access to the Cuban Jewish community (as Cuban internet access is currently filtered for all island civilians), though it has also been reported that prominent members of the Jewish community of Cuba, when asked to testify at his trial, claimed to not know Gross.
He was born circa 1950. He went to the University of Maryland and Virginia Commonwealth University to study social work. In 2001 he founded Joint Business Development Center to help connect the developing world to the Internet
. By 2011, he had 25 years of experience as an international humanitarian worker. He has a wife and two daughters.
Around 2009, he made several trips to Cuba to help the Jewish community there connect to the Internet
. He was working for Development Alternatives Inc. a contractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development.
He was arrested December 4, 2009 at the Havana Airport. He was jailed at Villa Marista prison. In January 2010, Ricardo Alarcón of the Cuban National Assembly claimed Gross was "work[ing] for intelligence services". US Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
said his treatment was an attempt by Cuba to get a 'concession'.
Many Jewish groups, including the Conference of Presidents of Major North American Organizations and the American Jewish Committee
, protested his treatment.
In March 2011 his trial was held. He was charged with "Acts against the Independence and Territorial Integrity of the State" ("Actos Contra la Independencia o la Integridad Territorial del Estado"). On March 12, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. The Cuban News Agency said he had been part of a "subversive project of the U.S. government that aimed to destroy the Revolution through the use of communication systems out of the control of authorities". Gross’s case was appealed to the Supreme Court of Cuba
which affirmed the sentence in August, 2011. Then, in October 2011, controversy erupted after it was revealed that the State Department had offered to let Rene Gonzalez serve the remainder of his probation in Cuba, in exchange for Gross' release.
The US Government, including Secretary of State Clinton, denounced the ruling.
His US attorney is Peter J. Kahn. He also has a Cuban attorney.
International development
International development or global development is a concept that lacks a universally accepted definition, but it is most used in a holistic and multi-disciplinary context of human development — the development of greater quality of life for humans...
professional. In 2011 he was detained and prosecuted while in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, where the state currently claims that he was acting on behalf of the US government as part of a destabilization campaign to "topple" the Cuban Revolution
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
. The official story in the US, as reported by the Miami Herald, is that Gross was only on the island to provide "unfiltered" internet access to the Cuban Jewish community (as Cuban internet access is currently filtered for all island civilians), though it has also been reported that prominent members of the Jewish community of Cuba, when asked to testify at his trial, claimed to not know Gross.
He was born circa 1950. He went to the University of Maryland and Virginia Commonwealth University to study social work. In 2001 he founded Joint Business Development Center to help connect the developing world to the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. By 2011, he had 25 years of experience as an international humanitarian worker. He has a wife and two daughters.
Around 2009, he made several trips to Cuba to help the Jewish community there connect to the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. He was working for Development Alternatives Inc. a contractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development.
He was arrested December 4, 2009 at the Havana Airport. He was jailed at Villa Marista prison. In January 2010, Ricardo Alarcón of the Cuban National Assembly claimed Gross was "work[ing] for intelligence services". US Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. She is a member of the Republican Party....
said his treatment was an attempt by Cuba to get a 'concession'.
Many Jewish groups, including the Conference of Presidents of Major North American Organizations and the American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Committee
The American Jewish Committee was "founded in 1906 with the aim of rallying all sections of American Jewry to defend the rights of Jews all over the world...
, protested his treatment.
In March 2011 his trial was held. He was charged with "Acts against the Independence and Territorial Integrity of the State" ("Actos Contra la Independencia o la Integridad Territorial del Estado"). On March 12, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. The Cuban News Agency said he had been part of a "subversive project of the U.S. government that aimed to destroy the Revolution through the use of communication systems out of the control of authorities". Gross’s case was appealed to the Supreme Court of Cuba
Supreme Court of Cuba
The People's Supreme Court is the highest body of judicial power in Cuba. It is elected by, and accountable to, the National Assembly of People’s Power...
which affirmed the sentence in August, 2011. Then, in October 2011, controversy erupted after it was revealed that the State Department had offered to let Rene Gonzalez serve the remainder of his probation in Cuba, in exchange for Gross' release.
The US Government, including Secretary of State Clinton, denounced the ruling.
His US attorney is Peter J. Kahn. He also has a Cuban attorney.