AREQUIPA, Peru – The immediate freedom of Cuban intellectual José Gabriel Barrenechea was the focus of a document signed by renowned politicians, activists, academics and members of civil society around the world.
Imprisoned in the Santa Clara Provincial Criminal Instruction Center since last November 8, the Cuban journalist has also remained on hunger strike since that day, when he was arrested after the peaceful protests that occurred in Encrucijada, Villa Clara.
In this regard, more than a hundred influential figures from Argentina, Spain, Canada, Uruguay, Mexico and the United States condemned Barrenechea’s arbitrary detention as a repressive act that violates essential human rights.
Between the signatories There are personalities such as Fernando Iglesias, national deputy in Argentina; Mariana Gómez del Campo, Mexican political leader and president of the Christian Democratic Organization of America; Valentina Martínez, former PP deputy; Sabrina Ajmechet, national representative in Argentina; Mauricio Alarcón Salvador, director of the Citizenship and Development Foundation in Ecuador; or Yoani Sánchez, Cuban journalist.
By signing the document, the signatories also expressed their concern for the health of the Cuban intellectual’s mother, an elderly woman deprived of the care of her son during his imprisonment.
“We demand the immediate release of the writer and activist, and, by extension, of all political prisoners in Cuba. We cannot remain silent in the face of this systematic violation of human rights,” the document states.
In addition to the aforementioned signatories, academics from recognized universities, human rights activists and members of international organizations such as the George W. Bush Institute in the US or the Cuban Canadian Coalition supported Barrenechea’s cause.
According to statements by the Cuban pastor Mario Felix Lleonart Barroso published last Friday, Barrenechea has remained planted since his arrest, without tasting food.
“We demand his release,” wrote the reverend, founder and coordinator of the Patmos Institute.
A local source confirmed to the NGO Cubalex that José Gabriel Barrenechea was arrested on Friday, November 8 and, since then, his family has had no news about his situation.
Barrenechea is the author of several books and has collaborated with independent media such as Inverted Tree, 14ymedio and Cuba Meetingin addition to international platforms such as Latin America 21. Due to his critical stance towards the regime, he has been a victim of censorship and persecution by State Security.
“Since 2019, it has been regulated to prevent him from leaving the country, he is denied the right to work, and his books are prohibited in Cuba,” Cubalex noted in its report.
Barrenechea’s would be the ninth confirmed arrest in the context of the demonstrations in Encrucijada.
On November 7, dozens of residents in the capital of that municipality took to the streets and protested at the pace of pot-banging in front of the headquarters of the Municipal Assembly of People’s Power against a 48-hour uninterrupted blackout.
Expressions of social discontent due to the worsening living conditions and the management of the authorities in the face of the current crisis left several detainees in different locations.
The Attorney General’s Office Republic of Cuba reported that criminal proceedings are being processed for crimes of “attack”, “public disorder” and “damage” in Havana, Mayabeque and Ciego de Ávila, and that a precautionary measure of provisional detention was imposed on the accused.
