Gloria Estefan Reacts to Fidel Castro's Death: 'May the Hope for Freedom Be ... Renewed in the Heart of Every Cuban'

— -- The death of Fidel Castro, the former president of Cuba, at the age of 90 brought strong responses from around the world, including from one of the world's most famous Cubans: Gloria Estefan.

Th singer posted a photo of Cuban refugees on a raft, and wrote on Instagram, "Although the death of a human being is rarely cause for celebration, it is the symbolic death of the destructive ideologies that [Castro] espoused that, I believe, is filling the Cuban exile community with renewed hope and a relief that has been long in coming."

She added, "Although the grip of Castro's regime will not loosen overnight, the demise of a leader that oversaw the annihilation of those with an opposing view, the indiscriminate jailing of innocents, the separation of families, the censure of his people's freedom to speak, state sanctioned terrorism and the economic destruction of a once thriving & successful country, can only lead to positive change for the Cuban people and our world."

She concluded, "May freedom continue to ring in the United States, my beautiful adopted country, and may the hope for freedom be inspired and renewed in the heart of every Cuban in my homeland and throughout the world."

Her husband, Emilio Estefan, added on his Facebook page, "To all political prisoners, many of those who died, and to their families ... to each family that were separated ... to the dissidents who struggle every day ... and to all who died seeking freedom -- We thank you and honor you for fighting for freedom and human rights for our homeland. Your sacrifice will NEVER be forgotten."

He concluded, "Today, there is a new dawn filled with hope for our beloved Cuba."