A generation determined: How Cuba’s Christian influencers have caught the regime off-guard

It is no secret that for 67 years the Cuban people have been oppressed under a deceptive discourse of victory and prosperity, which with each decade has only drifted further from the dream, revealing the true nightmare of the failure and misery of their so-called revolution.

While many in earlier generations accepted the illusory utopia to survive, today’s generation has awakened to the advance of technology, connectivity and the cyber world in a way that not even a dictatorship can contain. And, although failure has been tolerated and its reality evaded for almost seven decades, in just eight years young Cubans have become the protagonists of a new revolution on the island; their only weapons the truth and a mobile phone.

This snowball effect became internationally visible with the San Isidro Movement (MSI), which emerged in September 2018 in response to Decree 349, a law requiring artists to obtain prior permission for public and private exhibitions and performances, meant to control artistic expression. Many of the most prominent critics of that law – such as performance artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and rapper Maykel Castillo Pérez, better known as Maykel Osorbo – unknowingly paved the way for their future arrests.

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Una generación decidida: Cómo los jóvenes influencers cristianos de Cuba han tomado por sorpresa al régimen.

No es un secreto que durante 67 años el pueblo cubano ha sido oprimido bajo un discurso de victoria y prosperidad que, con cada década, se ha alejado más del sueño, revelando la verdadera pesadilla del fracaso y la miseria de su mal llamada revolución.

Mientras que muchos en generaciones anteriores aceptaron la utopía ilusoria para sobrevivir, la generación actual ha despertado gracias al avance de la tecnología, la conectividad y el mundo digital de una manera que ni siquiera una dictadura puede contener. Y, aunque el fracaso se ha tolerado y su realidad se ha eludido durante casi siete décadas, en tan solo ocho años los jóvenes cubanos se han convertido en protagonistas de una nueva revolución en la isla, cuyas únicas armas son la verdad y un teléfono móvil.

Este efecto bola de nieve se hizo visible internacionalmente con el Movimiento San Isidro (MSI), que surgió en septiembre de 2018 en respuesta al Decreto 349, una ley que obliga a los artistas a obtener permiso previo para exposiciones y presentaciones públicas y privadas, con el fin de controlar la expresión artística. Muchos de los críticos más destacados de esa ley, como el artista visual Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara y el rapero Maykel Castillo Pérez (‘Maykel Osorbo’), allanaron sin saberlo el camino para sus futuras detenciones.

Continue reading “Una generación decidida: Cómo los jóvenes influencers cristianos de Cuba han tomado por sorpresa al régimen.”

Claims of freedom of religion or belief in Nicaragua are greatly exaggerated

On 2 April, during a Maundy Thursday Chrism Mass, Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes addressed hundreds of Roman Catholic Church leaders who had filled the Metropolitan Cathedral in the Nicaraguan capital of Managua. He delivered a full sermon, but one particular quote of his was seized upon by Sputnik World, a Russian state-owned news agency:

‘People have been able to approach their churches with complete generosity, with complete freedom, and are living their faith. I believe that is the most important thing.’

The next day – Good Friday – the state-controlled media outlet Canal 4 Nicaragua shared a photo of the cardinal leading a procession outside a church on its Facebook page. The post generated 248 comments, among which the following stood out, each receiving dozens of likes:

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Las afirmaciones sobre la libertad de religión o creencias en Nicaragua son muy exageradas

El 2 de abril, durante la Misa Crismal del Jueves Santo, el Cardenal Leopoldo Brenes se dirigió a cientos de líderes de la Iglesia Católica Romana que habían llenado la Catedral Metropolitana en la capital nicaragüense de Managua. Pronunció un sermón completo, pero una cita en particular suya fue aprovechada por Sputnik Mundo, una agencia de noticias estatal rusa:

‘La gente con toda generosidad, con toda libertad, se ha podido acercar a sus templos y están viviendo su fe que, creo, que es lo más importante …’

El día siguiente – Viernes Santo – un medio de comunicación  controlado por el estado, Canal 4 Nicaragua, compartió una foto del cardenal encabezando una procesión frente a una iglesia en su página de Facebook. La publicación generó 248 comentarios, cada uno recibiendo decenas de “me gusta”, entre los que destacaron los siguientes:

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

‘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. “