Madrid Spain.- The event “Voices for freedom of religion in Cuba” was held this Monday at the JW Marriott hotel, Los Angeles, in parallel to the IX Summit of the Americas that began on June 6 in the same city.
During the meeting, broadcast live on CubaNetreligious leaders denounced the violation of religious freedom in Cuba and the testimonies of people persecuted for their faith on the island were heard.
One of the fundamental moments of the forum was the presentation of the survey “Religious freedom in Cuba”.
Among the participants were the coordinator of the Cuba Decide citizen platform, Rosa María Payá, and the musician Yotuel Romero.
In his words to those present, Romero recalled the situation of political prisoners in Cuba and referred to the children who have to observe and suffer that their parents, siblings, uncles… are sentenced to long years of deprivation of liberty.
“The greatest victim of the dictatorship is childhood, that broken childhood that has to put up with a president who has been handpicked,” said the artist.
For him event Pastor Alayn Toledano Valiente, leader of the Sendas de Justicia movement, was expected to attend.
However, as has happened in recent days with several activists who wanted to travel to the United States, he was denied leaving the country. Already in 2019, Toledano Valiente, the Cuban authorities had prohibited him from traveling to the northern country, where he would participate in the Ministerial Conference for the Advancement of Religious Freedoms.
Last week, the Government of the United States denounced the persecution of religious by the Cuban regime, in its report on International Religious Freedom for 2021.
“The Religious Affairs Bureau exercises direct and arbitrary control over the affairs of religious organizations, which require permission for virtually any activity other than regular worship services. Party officials use the permit system to meddle in the affairs of religious groups and coercive cooperation with government officials,” said the document, presented by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Receive information from CubaNet on your cell phone through WhatsApp. Send us a message with the word “CUBA” on the phone +1 (786) 316-2072, You can also subscribe to our electronic newsletter by giving click here.
