Amnesty International (AI) urged Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel to immediately and unconditionally release Cuban artists Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel “Osorbo” Castillo, as well as opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer, whom it considers “prisoners of conscience.” In an open letter published on its web page, the organization pointed out that these individuals are deprived of their freedom solely for exercising their human rights and should be released immediately.
The letter, signed by AI’s director for the Americas, Erika Guevara, mentions that Otero Alcántara, Castillo, and Ferrer face health problems and have been subjected to ill-treatment. The first two have been imprisoned since July 2021, while Ferrer was arrested in May 2021.
The release of this letter from AI comes after Pope Francis’ envoy, Cardinal Beniamino Stella, called in February for the release of protesters detained during Cuba’s historic July 11, 2021, protests demanding greater freedoms and economic improvements. The United States has also persistently called for the release of these prisoners.
According to AI, the human rights situation in Cuba continues to deteriorate, noting that 1,812 people were detained during the 2021 demonstrations, 768 of whom remain in prison. The organization also warns that the new Penal Code, approved in May 2022, threatens to further restrict freedom of expression and assembly and represents a worrying prospect for independent journalists, activists, and anyone critical of the authorities.
AI reports that since January, at least ten activists have been detained for several days or weeks in the Interior Ministry’s operations and investigation centers in different provinces of Cuba. It also warns about the arbitrary detention of five Cubans who participated in a demonstration in Caimanera on May 6 motivated by food and medicine shortages, and the authorities announced that they would be brought to justice.
In conclusion, Amnesty International urgently calls on the president of Cuba to comply with the country’s international obligations and protect the human rights of all those detained for exercising their freedom of expression in the Caribbean nation.