English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
EFE (via 14ymedio), Madrid, 11 February 2022 — The Spanish-Cuban activist Carolina Barrero said this Friday at a press conference held at the Ateneo de Madrid that “the [Cuban] dictatorship has never been in a moment of weakness as great as it is now.” “They know it, that’s why they look for ways to repress, … Continue reading “The Cuban Dictatorship Represses Because it is Weak, Says Activist Carolina Barrero”
14ymedio, Madrid, 4 February 2022 — On Thursday, Carolina Barrero became the latest case, to date, of an activist forced into exile. The art historian traveled on Thursday to Madrid after being informed by State Security that she had 48 hours to abandon the Island, according to her own account on Facebook. The activist was … Continue reading “Activist Carolina Barrero Left Cuba, Forced into Exile by Threats of the Regime”
14ymedio, Havana, 25 March 2021 – The criminal case against Carolina Barrero for “clandestine printing” has been shelved this Thursday, as she herself confirmed on her social networks. “Together we can build a culture of law, we have to know that we can defend ourselves against arbitrariness and fight for our legal rights,” she wrote … Continue reading “The Case in Cuba Against Carolina Barrero for ‘Clandestine Printed Matter’ Has Been Shelved”
14ymedio, Havana, 7 February 2021 — The art historian Carolina Barrero reported this Saturday that Cuban State Security has opened a police file on her for the alleged crime of “clandestine printing.” During an interrogation, a State Security agent urged the young woman to return to Spain, where she currently lives. The complaint against Barrero was … Continue reading “The Political Police Threaten Carolina Barrero and ‘Advise’ Her to Leave Cuba”
Interrogations, threats, arbitrary arrests, internet shutdowns and police repression were the price they paid for their criticism. EFE (via 14ymedio), Havana, 5 April 2025 — Carolina, Yanelys, Luz, Anamelys, and Katia are just five names on the list of Cuban women forced into exile in recent years for their dissent, from mere criticism to political … Continue reading “Forced Into Exile, Luz, Carolina, Yanelys, Anamelys and Katia Reinvent Themselves Outside of Cuba”
The Action for Amnesty 2026 Forum could be the starting point for a solid opposition front 14ymedio, Madrid, Ariel Hidalgo, May 6, 2026 / The time has come for the Cuban people to be present and speak out. They need no permission to speak and act in their own home, for their consciousness has grown. … Continue reading “The Time Has Come”
A report calls on Canada to channel humanitarian aid through non-governmental organizations to avoid the State. 14ymedio, Havana, February 27, 2026 – “We are facing the end of a historic cycle in Cuba. Either the decision is made to prolong the decay and with it the agony of the Cuban people, or to help find … Continue reading “Human Rights Organizations Urge Canada to Promote “Structural, Not Cosmetic Change” in Cuba”
Testimonies show that authorities use, among other biases, “the maternal role to try to get women to abandon activism.” 14ymedio/EFE, Madrid, 26 November 2025 — On Wednesday, the human rights organisation Amnesty International (AI) denounced the violence perpetrated by the Cuban regime against women activists, journalists and human rights defenders through gender-based abuse and authoritarian … Continue reading “The Cuban State Uses Gender-Based Violence as a Tool of Repression, Amnesty International Reports”
Official websites accuse the head of the US Embassy of “organizing subversive activity” in his meetings with the opposition and religious leaders. 14ymedio, Madrid, 12 March 2025 — When Mike Hammer, the US envoy in Cuba, replaced Benjamin Ziff in November 2024, the official press ignored the news. Career diplomat, with more than 35 years … Continue reading “After ‘Destabilizing Several African Countries’ Mike Hammer Seeks To Do the Same in Cuba”
Opponents and independent journalists, with police operations and communications cut off due to Independence Day 14ymedio, Havana, 20 May 2024 — Activist Leonardo Romero Negrín was released this Monday afternoon after spending several hours under arrest at the Dragones police station, in Old Havana. A group of friends stood outside the unit demanding the release … Continue reading “Supported by His Friends, Cuban Activist Leonardo Romero Negrín Is Released”
14ymedio, Madrid, 24 November 2023 — Before the of the European Union’s Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, landed in Cuba, State Security had already detained Professor Pedro Albert Sánchez and Dr. Fernándo Vázquez, both activists, who had announced their intention to meet with the Irish senior official. Ana Elvis Amaya, wife of Pedro … Continue reading “Political Police Isolate Opponents During EU Representative Eamon Gilmore’s Visit to Cuba”
14ymedio, Madrid, 10 October 2023 — Despite the numerous complaints against its candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council, Cuba obtained 146 votes in its favor on Tuesday. The Island, systematically accused of violating basic rights and freedoms, and with 784 political prisoners, will be part of the Council from 2024 to 2026. The Cuban … Continue reading “Cuba Re-Elected to the UN Human Rights Council Despite Its History of Repression”
EFE (via 14ymedio), Havana, 8 September 2023 — About 20 Cuban opposition organizations and 30 individual dissidents, mostly based abroad, signed a statement that rejects the recently announced candidacy for the re-election of Cuba to the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2024-2026. The document, published this Thursday, states that the Cuban State “does … Continue reading “Cuba’s Candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council Is Being Challenged”
14ymedio, Madrid, 2 December 2022 — About twenty activists from Amnesty International (AI) and friends of Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara gathered this Friday in front of the Cuban Embassy in Madrid to remember the birthday of the artist, who has been in prison since July 11, 2021, and to demand his release . Olatz Cacho, spokesperson … Continue reading “Cuban Embassy in Madrid Activates an Alarm to Ward Off Luis Otero Alcantara’s Friends”
14ymedio, Havana, September 20, 2022–Writer María Cristina Garrido, her sister Angélica, and activist Lizandra Góngora, arrested for their participation in the 11J protests [11 July 2021], announced on Tuesday their refusal to wear common prisoner uniforms and declared the start of a hunger strike. The prisoners signed a note from the women’s prison in Guatao, … Continue reading “The Garrido Sisters, Convicted in Cuba for July 11th (11J), are ‘Plantadas’ and Demand their Freedom”