harassment – Page 24 – FoRB in Full

Voices from Cuba: Yoel Suárez

Posted on 10/08/202022/06/2021 by cswpress in Cuba, Latin America

On 5 February 2020 Yoel Suárez was summoned to Siboney Police Station in Havana where he was interrogated for three hours by a state security agent who informed him that he had been declared ‘regulado.’ The declaration effectively subjects Mr Suárez to an indefinite ban on international travel, and is a common tactic used by the Cuban authorities to target individuals who they deem ‘politically sensitive’.

As an independent journalist, Mr Suárez has worked with non-state media outlets in Cuba since 2014 and has written extensively about human rights and freedom of religion or belief issues. As a result of his work, he and his family have been subjected to regular harassment at the hands of the Cuban authorities.

Today, over six months later, Mr Suárez remains unable to travel, and he and members of his family have received multiple visits from Cuban state security agents.

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VIDEO: Religious Freedom in Cuba: The lived reality

Posted on 30/03/202022/06/2021 by cswpress in Cuba, FoRB on the Frontlines, Latin America

Marilín Alayo Correa is a Cuban pastor and a leader within the Apostolic Movement. Marilín is also married to Apostle Alain Toledano Valiente, who is one of the key leaders in the Apostolic Movement. As a result of their work, both Marilín and her husband have been extensively targeted by the Cuban authorities for over two decades.

Most recently, Marilín shared a video testimony with CSW reflecting on her family’s story and the situation for religious groups in Cuba nearly 15 years after CSW began documenting the family’s case. In the past year, her husband Alain has also been placed on a travel restriction list and is regularly summoned to appear at their local police station.

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En la línea de fuego frente a la LdRC: “Una competencia para el gobierno”

Posted on 14/10/201924/06/2021 by cswpress in español, Latin America ES, Venezuela ES

En algunos países latinoamericanos, líderes religiosos frecuentemente desempeñan papeles como líderes comunitarios y defensores de los derechos humanos. Como resultado, estos líderes se enfrentan al acoso, la intimidación e incluso la violencia en las manos de actores estatales y no estatales. Durante las próximas semanas CSW presentará entrevistas con líderes religiosos quienes trabajan en la región para destacar sus experiencias en la línea de fuego frente a la libertad de religión o creencia (LdRC).

David* es un líder religioso trabajando en Venezuela. Ha implicado el acompañamiento pastoral a víctimas de violaciones de sus derechos humanos.

“Para hacer un trabajo social en Venezuela – entregar alimentos, hacer otras cosas, cuestión que yo hago – hay que hacerlo con mucha discreción, hay que hacerlo con cierto cuidado, y sin embargo es imposible no arriesgarse.

En teoría nosotros tenemos la libertad religiosa en Venezuela, pero algunos sacerdotes y líderes religiosos son un blanco para el gobierno, que es una especie de confederación de fuerzas que pretende mantenerse en el poder tratando de sostener su control social sobre las personas.

LEE MÁS

FoRB on the Frontlines: “A rival to the government”

Posted on 14/10/201924/06/2021 by cswpress in FoRB on the Frontlines, Latin America, Venezuela

In several Latin American countries, religious leaders often take on the roles of community leader and human rights defender. As a result, these leaders often face harassment, intimidation and even violence at the hands of state and non-state actors. Over the next few weeks CSW will be presenting interviews with religious leaders working in the region to highlight their experiences on the frontlines of freedom of religion or belief.

David* is a religious leader working in Venezuela. In his role, he has provided pastoral accompaniment to victims of human rights violations.

“To do social work in Venezuela – distributing food and other things, the work that I do – you have to be very discreet, you have to be very careful, and even then it’s impossible not to put yourself at risk.

In theory we have freedom of religion in Venezuela, but some priests and religious leaders are a target for the government, which is a kind of confederation of forces that aims to stay in power by trying to maintain social control over the people.

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