Havana, August 1 (RHC) -- French activist Jacqueline Roussie has sent U.S. President Barack Obama a letter asking him to free the three anti-terrorist Cubans who are still being held in U.S. federal prisons since 1998.

Known as the Cuban Five around the world, Rene Gonzalez, Fernando Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero, Gerardo Hernandez and Ramon Labañino, were given unfair and extremely long prison terms by a Miami court in 2001 after they monitored Florida-based violent organizations that planned terrorist actions against Cuba. Fernando and Rene have already returned to Cuba after having fully served their prison sentences, but Antonio, Gerardo and Ramón are still incarcerated.

For nearly 16 years, they have been separated from their parents and wives and deprived of their children's affection, said the activist in her letter to Obama.

She said that on June 15th, she received a message dedicated to Father's Day, sent to her and others by the U.S. president. “While reading that message, I thought of the huge injustice committed against the five Cubans,” Roussie said, and added that the United States “will respond to history for that case.”

The French activist said that Obama has the power to find a solution to the case, which would contribute to improving relations between Cuba and the United States.