MIAMI, United States. – The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH) reported this Monday that in September 2024 there were at least 286 repressive actions in Cuba, amid a new wave of harassment against activists and independent journalists.
Among the abuses recorded are 63 arbitrary arrests and 223 rights violations, which shows an increase in repression in response to the recent resolution of the European Parliament that demanded the cessation of these practices and the release of political prisoners.
The OCDH detailed that the majority of repressive incidents were recorded in the provinces of Havana, Camagüey, Villa Clara and Santiago de Cuba. Documented violations include the siege of activists’ homes, abuses against political prisoners, police harassment, threats and summonses to units of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR).
Additionally, the organization reported that at least 76 complaints came from political prisoners, common prisoners and their families, who describe an increase in abuses within the Cuban prison system.
In September, there was also an increase in repression against independent journalists who collaborate with media not controlled by the State. According to the OCDH, journalists have been subjected to police summonses, confiscations of their working equipment and direct threats. In several cases, they have been forced to give up their journalistic work or to participate in programs financed by foreign entities.
The OCDH highlighted that this new repressive escalation occurs as a direct response to international pressure. “The Cuban regime is once again taking advantage of the serious international war conflicts to mask the repression against human rights activists and independent journalists,” the organization stated.
The statement also stressed that it is “regrettable that this is Havana’s response to the European Parliament,” in reference to the resolution of September 19in which the Cuban Government was urged to end the repression.
In that resolution, the European Parliament specifically demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Cuban opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer García, who has been imprisoned since July 2021.
In the document, which was approved with 380 votes in favor, 182 against and 51 abstentions, the multinational entity expressed its deep concern about the human rights situation in Cuba. He also recalled that the arrest of the leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) has been classified as part of the “systematic repression” of the Cuban regime against dissidents and human rights defenders.
The resolution harshly criticizes the Cuban Government for its constant violations of human rights and for the arbitrary imprisonment of more than 1,000 political prisonersincluding minors. In addition, it mentions other dissidents sentenced to deprivation of liberty by the regime as Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Lizandra Góngorawho are also in critical conditions.
The European Parliament also urged the Cuban Government to immediately end the repression and release all political prisoners. Likewise, he reiterated his support for the Cuban people and human rights defenders who “fight for the freedoms that the regime has denied them for decades.”
Finally, Parliament urged the Council of the European Union (EU) to apply sanctions under the Magnitsky Law against those responsible for human rights violations in Cuba. Furthermore, he reiterated the possibility of suspending the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Cuba, given that the fundamental clauses of said agreement, related to human rights, have been “constantly violated” by the Cuban regime.
