Florida judge issues arrest warrant for former Cuban leader Raul Castro

A judge in Florida has issued an arrest warrant for former Cuban leader Raul Castro, as reported by Fox News, Al Jazeera, and The Washington Post. Chief Judge Ariana Fajardo Orshan of Florida's 11th Judicial Circuit found probable cause to believe that Castro conspired to commit first-degree murder, according to Fox News. [1][6][7]

The charges relate to the 1996 shootdown of two Miami-based civilian aircraft involved in a humanitarian operation, which resulted in the deaths of four unarmed civilians, Fox News reported. Cuban-American lawmakers welcomed the Florida judicial action and pledged to continue their efforts for freedom in Cuba. [1]

China has publicly criticized the move by the Florida court. According to Global Times, TRT World, Anadolu Ajansi, and Tasnim, the Chinese foreign ministry declared that China consistently opposes the abuse of judicial means to place pressure on Cuba. [2][3][4][5]

Cuban Americans make up the third largest Hispanic American group in the United States, tracing their ancestry directly to Cuba through birth or migration. [8]