The mother of Sulmira Martínez Pérez, 21 years old and known in the networks as Salem Cubahas no life since the young woman was arrested on January 10 for announcing that she would hold a protest in the streets, according to Norma Pérez in an emotional transmission through her account From Facebook.
Together with other users, Salem de Cuba manages a Facebook page where criticism and memes about the Cuban authorities are frequently published. The day of his arrest, Martínez made a clear announcement: “For those who say that he who pushes does not hit himself: I am planning a demonstration on the street, not behind a screen.”
Shortly after, another phrase appeared on the same Facebook page alluding to the possible protest: “We need organization… spread the word!!! We plan another July 11.” After that text, Salem Cuba did not publish anything else and on January 24 another user of the page wondered what had happened to the young woman.
Several details of the arrest, which had been little publicized until now, have begun to emerge in recent days, partly because the mother has been “running from here to there” for weeks to get her daughter released as soon as possible. But with the passage of time, and after a month of detention, Norma Pérez feels desperate.
“First I was at 100 and Aldabó [centro de detención en la Habana] and then they transferred it to Villa Marista [cuartel de la Seguridad del Estado]”, details the woman, who denounces that during the arrest her house was the subject of a police search: “They seized our computer, the telephone and they took away our internet connection by Nauta.”
Of the arrest, which had been little publicized until now, several details have begun to emerge in recent days, partly because the mother has been “running from here to there” for weeks.
The lawyer, hired through the “revolutionary state” cost 5,400 pesos, denounces the woman and clarifies that her daughter is accused of “propaganda against the constitutional order.”
The new Cuban Penal Code, which entered into force last December, increased the penalties against human rights defenders, activism and protest criticism on social networks. In its article 143, the regulations indicate that those who support, promote or receive resources “with the purpose of paying for activities against the State and its constitutional order” incur a penalty of deprivation of liberty from four to ten years.
Normas Pérez took advantage of her broadcast on Facebook to thank “everyone who has worried” and assures that she does not feel physically well at all due to the pressures she has been experiencing since her daughter’s arrest. “The investigator [del caso] He has told me that the crime is extremely serious.” But the mother reiterates that her daughter only spoke out, because she does not agree with the situation, because she does not want to be here, she does not want to live in this country.”
________________________
Collaborate with our work:
The team of 14ymedio He is committed to doing serious journalism that reflects the reality of deep Cuba. Thank you for accompanying us on this long road. We invite you to continue supporting us, but this time becoming a member of our newspaper. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.
