“It is a fundamental principle of criminal law that an imputed offense must correspond exactly to the type of crime described by law. If no law applies exactly to the point in question, then there is no offense.”
- August 13, 1926 – November 25, 2016
- Cuban
- Revolutionary, Prime Minister and President of Cuba, Communist Leader
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Quote
“It is a fundamental principle of criminal law that an imputed offense must correspond exactly to the type of crime described by law. If no law applies exactly to the point in question, then there is no offense.”
Explanation
This quote underscores a core tenet of legal justice known as the principle of legality—that individuals can only be charged with crimes explicitly defined by law. Fidel Castro affirms that criminal accusations must align precisely with legal definitions, and that no one can be punished for actions not clearly prohibited at the time they were committed. The statement “if no law applies exactly… then there is no offense” reflects a commitment to protecting individual rights against arbitrary or retroactive prosecution.
This principle has roots in both Roman law and modern democratic legal systems, including the concept nullum crimen, nulla poena sine lege—“no crime, no punishment without law.” Historically, Castro may have invoked this idea in the context of defending political dissidents, revolutionary acts, or his own legal struggles, such as during his famous self-defense in the 1953 trial following the Moncada Barracks attack. He sought to argue that justice must be based on lawful precision, not political convenience.
In today’s context, the quote serves as a vital reminder of the rule of law, particularly in an era where politically motivated charges, vague anti-terror laws, or emergency decrees can be misused to silence dissent. Castro’s assertion insists that law must be clear, consistent, and protective of due process, and that without such protections, legal systems risk becoming tools of repression rather than justice.
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