The Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba said it would file an appeal within three days and take its case all the way to the top of the Spanish judiciary if necessary in order to pursue Castro.
Inspired by the case in the Spanish courts against former Chilean dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet, the Cuban group filed a suit on Nov. 5 accusing Castro of genocide and other crimes. It was rejected Thursday by National Court Judge Ismael Moreno.
Moreno said the suit referred to common crimes committed outside Spain that were not within Spanish jurisdiction. He also ruled the petition failed to present credible evidence that Castro had committed genocide.
Further, Moreno's ruling said that the alleged cases of torture noted in the suit were better described as ``degrading treatment,'' the Spanish news agency Europa Press reported.
Javier Barrilero, an attorney who represents the foundation, said Moreno's ruling was ``not a surprise.''
``The case against Castro was inspired by the Pinochet case but has since become independent. The road does not stop here,'' he said.
Barrilero said his clients would pursue the case as far as they can in Spain and may even go to international courts.
Pinochet was arrested on a Spanish warrant Oct. 16 while in a London hospital recuperating from back surgery. Spanish authorities want to extradite him to face charges of genocide during his 1973-90 rule.
The Foundation for Human Rights is part of the Cuban-American National Foundation, a Miami-based anti-Castro group.
© Copyright 1998 The Associated Press