Imagine being 16 years old — and thrown in prison by a Communist government because of what your family believes.

That is exactly what happened to Jonathan Muir Burgos in Cuba.

Jonathan's father is an evangelical pastor whose church is not approved by Cuba's Communist regime. On March 16, Jonathan and his father were called in by police. His father walked out. Jonathan did not.

He is sitting in a detention center, alone, separated from his family — never formally charged. The only question Communist authorities asked during interrogation was whether he had called for "freedom."

That word — freedom — is why he is behind bars.

What makes this even more heartbreaking: Jonathan is sick. He has a serious skin condition that has caused life-threatening infections and requires daily medication. His family is terrified about what is happening to him in that cell. This is what Communism does to children.

Cuba's Communist government has a documented pattern of arresting the children of Christian leaders to silence entire communities of faith. This is religious persecution. It is an attack on the family. And it must be stopped.

U.S. Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez — the only Cuban-born member of Congress — has publicly demanded Jonathan's immediate release, calling him a political prisoner.

Please sign this petition to demand Jonathan's immediate and unconditional release.

If we stay silent, Communist regimes will keep punishing families for their faith and using children as weapons against parents who dare to worship freely. God-fearing families should never have to choose between their faith and their freedom.

Jonathan deserves to go home.