Tag: arbitrary detention

‘Cuba needs more than words’: Why neutrality is not an option for religious leaders on the island. 

Posted on by cswpress in Cuba, Latin America

‘It was terrifying for my children… they started crying and screaming.’

On Sunday 22 March, in Guanabacoa, Havana Province, Cuba worshippers, including several minors, at the Christ Center Missionary Alliance were attacked with stones and concrete blocks by a neighbour who reportedly works for the Ministry of the Interior, and who has a history of hostile actions targeting the church. The church’s Pastors Yoennis Cala and Dayana Gómez, along with their young children, experienced moments of panic when a neighbour hurled objects at their home.

The incident marked one of several indicators of a new wave of repression in Cuba – one marked by detentions, acts of violence, and actions targeting individuals linked to religious belief and public expression, and one that reflects a troubling pattern across different regions of the country.

Continue reading “‘Cuba needs more than words’: Why neutrality is not an option for religious leaders on the island. “ →

«Cuba necesita más que palabras»: Por qué la neutralidad no es una opción para los líderes religiosos en la isla.

Posted on by cswpress in Cuba ES, español, Latin America ES

«Fue aterrador para mis hijos… comenzaron a llorar y a gritar».

El domingo 22 de marzo, en Guanabacoa (provincia de La Habana, Cuba), varios fieles —incluyendo a varios menores— de la Alianza Misionera «Cristo Centro» fueron atacados con piedras y bloques de hormigón por un vecino que, según se informa, trabaja para el Ministerio del Interior y que cuenta con un historial de acciones hostiles dirigidas contra la iglesia. Los pastores de la congregación, Yoennis Cala y Dayana Gómez, junto con sus hijos pequeños, vivieron momentos de pánico cuando el vecino arrojó objetos contra su vivienda.

Este incidente constituyó uno de los varios indicios de una nueva ola de represión en Cuba: una ola marcada por detenciones, actos de violencia y acciones dirigidas contra personas vinculadas a la fe religiosa y a la expresión pública; un fenómeno que, además, refleja un patrón inquietante en diversas regiones del país.

Continue reading “«Cuba necesita más que palabras»: Por qué la neutralidad no es una opción para los líderes religiosos en la isla.” →

A pastor arrested over YouTube videos, a child detained for days, a country in crisis. What is happening in Cuba?

Posted on by cswpress in Cuba, Latin America

On 15 March Pastor Rolando Pérez Lora was arrested in front his family in a park in Peñas Altas, Matanzas, in northern Cuba, moments after he had finished uploading a Bible teaching video to his YouTube channel.

It is not clear what offence the political police officers who arrested him believed he had committed. Pastor Pérez told CSW that he records and uploads videos in the park, which is one of only two locations in the area with public Wi-Fi, every week. His wife, Gelayne Rodríguez Ávila, joins him and often prays for those who gather to listen and request prayer.

Video footage taken by Mrs Rodríguez depicts her husband being forced into a patrol car by two officers as he protests: ‘You’re mistreating me for no reason. I haven’t done anything wrong.’ The cries of his young children can be heard in the background.

Continue reading “A pastor arrested over YouTube videos, a child detained for days, a country in crisis. What is happening in Cuba?” →

Un pastor fue arrestado por videos en YouTube, un niño detenido durante días, un país en crisis. ¿Qué está pasando en Cuba?

Posted on by cswpress in Cuba ES, español, Latin America ES

El 15 de marzo, el Pastor Rolando Pérez Lora fue arrestado frente a su familia en un parque de Peñas Altas, Matanzas, en el norte de Cuba, momentos después de haber terminado de subir un video de enseñanza bíblica a su canal de YouTube.

No está claro para la policía política que arrestó al pastor, qué delito había cometido. El pastor Pérez declaró a CSW que todas las semanas graba y sube videos en ese parque, porque es uno de los dos únicos lugares públicos con zona wifi en la ciudad. Normalmente su esposa, Gelayne Rodríguez Ávila, lo acompaña y a menudo ora por quienes se reúnen para escuchar y después suelen pedir oración.

Un video grabado por la Sra. Rodríguez muestra a su esposo siendo forzado por dos agentes a entrar en una patrulla, mientras él protesta: «Me están maltratando sin motivo. No he hecho nada malo», mientras se oyen los llantos de sus hijos pequeños de fondo.

Continue reading “Un pastor fue arrestado por videos en YouTube, un niño detenido durante días, un país en crisis. ¿Qué está pasando en Cuba?” →

For authorities in Cuba’s prisons, the right to freedom of religion or belief is a tool to manipulate 

Posted on by cswpress in Cuba, Latin America

It has been understood for decades that conditions in Cuba’s maximum-security prisons are terrible. They have only grown worse over the past few years as the entire country has experienced an economic and infrastructure crisis, with critical shortages of food and medicine across the country alongside the repeat failure of the island’s entire electrical grid, sometimes for days at a time.  

Since 1989, the Cuban government has refused access to the International Committee of the Red Cross to monitor or assess prison conditions. Prisoners are held in unhygienic, sometimes overcrowded conditions, in cells infested with mosquitoes and bedbugs. The food served to prisoners is unpalatable, riddled with insects and worms, and low in nutrition. Despite rampant disease, including tuberculosis, dengue, and dysentery outbreaks, throughout the prison facilities, medical attention is inadequate, if provided at all.  

During the hot and humid summer months, temperatures inside the cells can rise to dangerous levels. Multiple former political prisoners have told CSW that the only water they had extremely limited access to, both for drinking and personal hygiene, was cloudy or dirty.  

Continue reading “For authorities in Cuba’s prisons, the right to freedom of religion or belief is a tool to manipulate “ →