MIAMI, United States. – The Justice 11J organization denounced that at least four people convicted for their participation in the anti-government protests of July 11, 2021 (11J) They have lost their lives while serving their sentences in Cuban prisons.
These deaths, attributed to the island’s regime “by direct commission, or by negligence and abandonment in the fulfillment of its obligations,” aggravate the complaints about the terrible state of human rights in Cuba.
According to the most recent Justice 11J bulletinthe deceased are Luis Barrios, Yosandri Mulet, Giraldo Díaz and Manuel de Jesus Guillén Esplugas. The NGO maintains that the circumstances surrounding these cases “have not been clarified through a reliable and independent investigation,” which increases suspicions about state responsibility in these events.
In the case of Guillén Esplugas, 29, the authorities presented the version of an alleged “suicide.” However, her mother, Dania María Esplugas, denounced that she was the victim of a crime at the hands of Cuban State officials.
The activist, who was serving a six-year sentence, was in the Combinado del Este prison (Havana). There, according to his family, he was beaten by guards, which caused his death. Images that Justicia 11J had access to show alleged signs of torture on Guillén’s body.
These deaths reflect, according to the organization, the serious situation faced by political prisoners in the country. More than three years after 11J, at least 554 people remain imprisoned for their participation in the demonstrations. Of a total of 1,586 detainees, the majority have faced or face a criminal system that, according to the NGO, fails to comply with the minimum guarantees established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The persistence of complaints about lack of medical care, unsanitary conditions, torture and mistreatment reinforces the perception that the Cuban State is failing to fulfill its obligations to safeguard the life and integrity of those in its custody.
Justice 11J remembers that this reality is not limited to deaths in prison. In previous reports, such as “Another year without justice (2024)” and “Forced exiles after 11J”, the organization has documented the Havana regime’s systematic disrespect for fundamental rights. Furthermore, the NGO points out that many former political prisoners have been forced into exile, seeking to escape a repressive environment and constant harassment.
Given this panorama, Justice 11J demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and called on the international community to pressure the Cuban Government. He also requested independent access to penitentiary centers to verify the real situation of the inmates.
