Mayker Filema Clings to the Position of Freemasonry Grand Master Against Those Who Cause “Destabilization”

The ousted Freemasonry leader has the support of the Cuban authorities 14ymedio, Havana, June 12, 2025 — A new document signed by Mayker Filema Duarte, dismissed as Grand Master (GM) of the Grand Lodge of Cuba (GLC) on May 25, was made public this Wednesday, June 11. During an extraordinary assembly that brought together more … Continue reading “Mayker Filema Clings to the Position of Freemasonry Grand Master Against Those Who Cause “Destabilization””

The Cuban Regime Imposes a Leader on Freemasonry and Will Freeze Their Bank Accounts if They Reject Him

Cuba’s Ministry of Justice replaces the unruly José Ramón Viñas with the ‘babalawo’ Lázaro Cuesta 14ymedio, Juan Izquierdo, Havana, May 29, 2025 — The man that the Ministry of Justice wants to command the Supreme Council for the 33rd Degree – the highest authority of Freemasonry in Cuba, next to the Grand Lodge – is … Continue reading “The Cuban Regime Imposes a Leader on Freemasonry and Will Freeze Their Bank Accounts if They Reject Him”

The Expulsion of Writer Ángel Santiesteban Opens a New Crisis in Cuban Masonry

The case documents show the high level of politicization in the accusations. 14ymedio, Juan Izquierdo, Havana, 10 April 2025 — A number of crimes against Freemasonry appear in the indictment of Ángel Santiesteban Prats before the Supreme Court of Masonic Justice. Writer, opponent, screenwriter and high-ranking Freemason, Santiesteban has been one of the most critical … Continue reading “The Expulsion of Writer Ángel Santiesteban Opens a New Crisis in Cuban Masonry”

The Grand Master Is Expelled From Cuban Freemasonry to the Cry of ‘Out With the Thief!’

14ymedio, Havana, 25 March 2024 — The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Cuba, Mario Alberto Urquía Carreño, has been expelled by the representatives of more than 300 lodges on the Island to the cry of “Out with the thief, usurper, scoundrel, traitor!” The event took place on Sunday, when Urquía, who continues to … Continue reading “The Grand Master Is Expelled From Cuban Freemasonry to the Cry of ‘Out With the Thief!’”

“Cuban State Security Has Always Opted To Weaken Cuban Freemasonry”

14ymedio, Havana, 17 January 2024 — After the theft of some $19,000 from his office, Grand Master Mario Alberto Urquía, leader of the Cuban Freemasons, has entrenched himself against those demanding his resignation. Measures to reinforce his authority have been drastic: he dismissed senior Masonic officials who questioned him and issued an urgent “call to order.” … Continue reading ““Cuban State Security Has Always Opted To Weaken Cuban Freemasonry””

“The Silences and Scandals of Cuban Freemasonry” is Presented at the Miami Book Fair

14ymedio, Xavier Carbonell, Salamanca, 18 November 2022 — The book, Del templo al temple. Silencios y escándalos de la masonería cubana [From Temple to Temple. Silences and Scandals of Cuban Freemasonry] (Editorial Primigenios, 2022), by journalist Camila Acosta, will be presented from November 18 to 20 at the Miami Book Fair. It’s a history of … Continue reading ““The Silences and Scandals of Cuban Freemasonry” is Presented at the Miami Book Fair”

Angel Santiesteban’s Personal War

14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana | 7 February  2021 — Ángel Santiesteban Prats (1966, Havana) is perhaps the living Cuban writer, residing in Cuba, who has had the most problems with the political police. He is also one of those who has garnered the most recognition for his literary work. He writes film scripts, practices journalism … Continue reading “Angel Santiesteban’s Personal War”

Angel Santiesteban: Most of our people pretend

Disoriented in time like all ex-prisoners, Ángel Santiesteban brings with him a thousand prison demons. Interview with Ángel Santiesteban after his conditional release – Cuba 2015. Havana, Cuba, Augusto César San Martín —  The writer Ángel Santiesteban Prats suffers with every word he writes. “I classify my work as social,” he declares in an interview … Continue reading “Angel Santiesteban: Most of our people pretend”

“I Am a Prisoner Because of a Tantrum by Raul Castro” / Juan Carlos Linares, Angel Santiesteban

Havana, Cuba, October, www.cubanet.org — Without any doubt, the prosecutor at the oral hearing clung to the least of the supposed crimes, “Housebreaking and Injuries,” being proved by the very “witness” who lied.  The farce of a trial was a settling of scores for Santiesteban because of his opposition to totalitarianism, and so he was … Continue reading ““I Am a Prisoner Because of a Tantrum by Raul Castro” / Juan Carlos Linares, Angel Santiesteban”

Facing State Counterintelligence Part 1 / Angel Santiesteban #Cuba

Our adolescence was fertilized with novels and TV series that marked our aesthetics and personalities. How many times did we read the novels, “Here the Sands are Cleaner,” “If I Die Tomorrow,” or the series “It Had to Be in Silence,” with most of us enjoying those fantasies of socialist heroes who, guided by Cuban … Continue reading “Facing State Counterintelligence Part 1 / Angel Santiesteban #Cuba”

Testimony of Angel Santiesteban after the events on Thursday, November 8, 2012 / Angel Santiesteban

“I’m happy, I’m doing my duty.” #OlaRepresiva #FreeRodiles Interview filmed by Claudio Fuentes Madan My name is Angel Santiesteban Prats, I’m a writer and Cuban blogger, government opponent. It was really sad what happened there, the whole world has seen the terrible video, where unfortunately we show what happens in Cuba every day. Thank God … Continue reading “Testimony of Angel Santiesteban after the events on Thursday, November 8, 2012 / Angel Santiesteban”

‘Cubanet’ Denounces a ‘Wave of Harassment’ Against Its Collaborators by the Cuban Regime

The online news source did not reveal the identity of any of those affected “to avoid further reprisals” 14ymedio, Havana, 4 October 2024 — A group of journalists and Cubanet collaborators has suffered “threats, intimidation, arrests and confiscation of work assets and money in recent days.” This was announced by the online news source in … Continue reading “‘Cubanet’ Denounces a ‘Wave of Harassment’ Against Its Collaborators by the Cuban Regime”

Cuban Freemasons Had To Hand Over Their Cell Phones Before Entering the Meeting With the Communist Party

Gustavo Pardo regrets the “inability of the brotherhood to solve its internal problems” 14ymedio, Juan Izquierdo, Havana, 2 August 2024 — The Communist Party refrained from making decisions this Thursday during the meeting that the head of Religious Affairs of the Cuban Communist Party (CCP), Caridad Diego, held with a group of Freemasons from the … Continue reading “Cuban Freemasons Had To Hand Over Their Cell Phones Before Entering the Meeting With the Communist Party”

Cuban Communist Party Summons Masons to a Meeting Seeking to Increase Its Control

The regime takes advantage of the mistake made by the fraternity in its attempt to dismiss the Grand Master 14ymedio, Juan Izquierdo, Havana, August 1, 2024 — The eyes of the Cuban Freemasons are on the meeting that the members of the fraternity in Havana, including several senior officials, will hold this Thursday with Caridad … Continue reading “Cuban Communist Party Summons Masons to a Meeting Seeking to Increase Its Control”

The Government Launches an Offensive on Several Fronts Against the Cuban Freemasons Who Protested

A program by the anonymous spokesman Cuban Warrior and the arrest of the writer Ángel Santiesteban form part of the measures against those who oppose the current Grand Master 14ymedio, Juan Izquierdo, Havana, 26 July 2024 — The Cuban regime has demonstrated in the last 48 hours that the protest of Freemasons on July 23 … Continue reading “The Government Launches an Offensive on Several Fronts Against the Cuban Freemasons Who Protested”