Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara’s Right to Believe and Practice His Faith / Mario Lleonart

Mario Lleonart, 16 December 2017 — Another flagrant violation of religious liberties took place in Cuba on 14 December 2017, when Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara’s pilgrimage to the San Lázaro shrine was stopped, according to information provided by his wife, Yanelys Núñez Leyva. Otero Alcántara was detained on the orders of the Cuban State Security, which is what  … Continue reading “Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara’s Right to Believe and Practice His Faith / Mario Lleonart”

Cuban Faces 2017: Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara

14ymedio, Havana, 25 December 2017 — Restless, hyperactive, media-focused and irreverent, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara (b. 1987, Havana) turned 30 this year in the midst of an unstoppable and controversial artistic work. With his proposal With All And For The Good Of A Few he created three artistic interventions centered on the luxurious hotel Manzana Kempinski. In the … Continue reading “Cuban Faces 2017: Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara”

More Than 300 People Sign a Petition for the Release of Artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara

14ymedio, Havana, 9 November 2017 — The arrest of Cuban artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara has unleashed a wave of solidarity on the internet. The artist Tania Bruguera launched a solidarity campaign that as of Thursday exceeded 300 signatures to demand the release of the young artist. The declaration states that the government’s reaction towards the … Continue reading “More Than 300 People Sign a Petition for the Release of Artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara”

Cubalex’s Assessment of the Sentences Imposed Upon Luis Manuel Otero and Maykel Castillo / Cubalex

Cubalex, Giselle Camila Morfi, 24 June 2022 — The crimes of disrespecting national symbols, contempt, defamation of institutions and organizations, and heroes and martyrs, are not compatible with international human rights standards. These crimes are an assault on the freedom of expression recognized in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant … Continue reading “Cubalex’s Assessment of the Sentences Imposed Upon Luis Manuel Otero and Maykel Castillo / Cubalex”

Cuba’s Foreign Ministry Rejects EU’s Criticisms of the Convictions of Alcantara and ‘Osorbo’

14ymedio, Madrid, 5 July 2022 — The Cuban Foreign Ministry reacted this Monday, more than a week late, to the European Union’s condemnation of the sentence against the members of the San Isidro Movement, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel Castillo ’Osorbo’. The spokesman for the European External Action Service, Peter Stano, posted on Sunday … Continue reading “Cuba’s Foreign Ministry Rejects EU’s Criticisms of the Convictions of Alcantara and ‘Osorbo’”

Arrests and Threats for Cuban Activists During the Trial of Alcantara and Osorbo

14ymedio, Madrid, 30 May 2021 — On Monday, May 30th, an impenetrable operation guarded the Tribunal in Marianao in Havana, where the first day of the trial was held for Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel Castillo Osorbo. Some witnesses who were able to attend the oral arguments relayed to 14ymedio that, based on the behavior of the Tribunal and … Continue reading “Arrests and Threats for Cuban Activists During the Trial of Alcantara and Osorbo”

Anamely Ramos Stands with Photos of ‘Osorbo’ and Otero in Front of the Cuban Embassy in Washington

14ymedio, Havana, 13 March 2022 — “Enough of allowing a dictatorship to set the rules,” said art curator Anamely Ramos, who announced last Friday that she was camping out in front of the Cuban embassy in Washington. “It is my right to return to Cuba. My home is there.” Ramos, who was prevented by the … Continue reading “Anamely Ramos Stands with Photos of ‘Osorbo’ and Otero in Front of the Cuban Embassy in Washington”

What’s Happened to Luis Manuel Otero Since he was Imprisoned? / Cubalex

Cubalex, 12 May 2021 [please note date*] — On April 25, after suffering constant acts of repression, Luis Manuel Otero made the decision to go on a hunger strike as a protest. On April 30, members of his family reported that he was very weak. On the seventh day of the strike, Luis Manuel Otero declared: “If … Continue reading “What’s Happened to Luis Manuel Otero Since he was Imprisoned? / Cubalex”

Cuban Authorities Still Haven’t Explained Why Alcantara Can’t Leave the Hospital

14ymedio, Havana, 11 May 2021 — The artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is still hospitalized despite the fact that he was admitted to the Calixto García in Havana nine days ago and the authorities released clinical data indicating that his health was more than good. The Provincial Directorate of Health of Havana released a statement on Tuesday in which it assures that the … Continue reading “Cuban Authorities Still Haven’t Explained Why Alcantara Can’t Leave the Hospital”

The Artist Alcantara Again Sparks Controversy by Auctioning the Flag of his ‘Performance’

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 23 March 2020 — Just one week after his release, the controversy has returned to the work of Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, who announced the auction of the flag that starred in Drapeau, the performance for which the Government accuses him of the crime of “insult to the national symbols.” This flag bears … Continue reading “The Artist Alcantara Again Sparks Controversy by Auctioning the Flag of his ‘Performance’”

Cubalex Demands the Immediate Release of the Artists Luis Manuel Otero, Amaury Pacheco and Soandry Del Río / Cubalex

Arrest of Luis Manuel Otero Cubalex, 22 July 2018 – Peaceful gatherings and demonstrations are essential for public participation On the afternoon of July 21, 2018, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, Iris Ruiz, Amaury Pacheco, Soandry del Río, Yanelys Nuñez Leyva and José Ernesto Alonso met in front of Havana’s Capitol building, contrary to the regulations … Continue reading “Cubalex Demands the Immediate Release of the Artists Luis Manuel Otero, Amaury Pacheco and Soandry Del Río / Cubalex”

Luis Manuel Otero: From Athlete to Dissident Artist / Iván García

Ivan Garcia, 15 February 2018 — He’s like a character out of a dark novel by Pedro Juan Gutiérrez. He turned 30 on December 2, 2017, and the life of Luis Manuel Otero has been marked by survival. He still remembers the 12-hour blackouts when he was a kid, in the middle of the Special … Continue reading “Luis Manuel Otero: From Athlete to Dissident Artist / Iván García”

Luis Manuel Otero: “Fear is One of the Most Effective Tools of This System”

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 11 October 2017 — When he was a boy all he needed was a scalpel to shape a piece of wood and he gladly exchanged the tracks of athleticism for art. Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara dreamed of “being famous, having money and improving the world,” but ended up denouncing, through his aesthetic … Continue reading “Luis Manuel Otero: “Fear is One of the Most Effective Tools of This System””

Aniete Gonzalez, Imprisoned for Wrapping Herself in the Cuban Flag, Was Granted Precautionary Measures by Human Rights Commission

14ymedio, Madrid, 7 May 2024 — The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has issued precautionary measures in favor of activist Aniette González García, sentenced last February to three years in prison for photographing herself wrapped in the Cuban flag. In addition, the Cuban Human Rights Observatory (OCDH), requesting the measures, reported this Monday on … Continue reading “Aniete Gonzalez, Imprisoned for Wrapping Herself in the Cuban Flag, Was Granted Precautionary Measures by Human Rights Commission”