Relatives of a jailed Cuban dissident who died during a hunger strike have emigrated to the United States.

Orlando Zapata Tamayo's mother arrived in Miami on Thursday along with a dozen other family members. She was carrying the ashes of her son.

Cuban authorities earlier this week had exhumed and cremated Zapata's remains at his family's request.

The family was met at the airport by supporters from the Cuban exile community.

Zapata died in 2009 following a nearly three-month hunger strike to protest Cuban prison conditions. Zapata's mother blamed Cuban authorities for his death, which prompted international criticism of the Cuban government.