Cuba report: At least 1,000 cases of arbitrary arrest and detention since outbreak of protests

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH) has reported that since the July 11 outbreak of nationwide protests in Cuba, the communist government has carried out at least 1,745 repressive actions against protestors, of which 1,103 were some type of arbitrary detention. The OCDH said the published figures are not definitive as the collection of data has been hindered by repressive government actions.

Cubans across the country took to the streets last month in a rare demonstration against the government’s handling of the economic and pandemic crises, and against authoritarian abuses of human rights. Led by President Miguel Díaz-Canel, the Communist Party of Cuba immediately launched a severe crackdown on the demonstrations, resulting in the arrests and imprisonment of protestors, including even Christian pastors.

“Of the arrests registered, there is already an important group that has been sentenced to deprivation of liberty in trials lacking guarantees, with total legal defenselessness of those affected, and in a climate of threats, including family members.” OCDH executive director Alejandro González Raga said in a statement. “We must also take into account that at least 23 minors, between 14 and 17 years of age, have been detained. ”

“We remain seriously concerned about expedited trials without due process guarantees, torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment committed by the authorities; also because of the police impunity and violence, and because of the threats after the protests against anyone who wrote a post or uploaded an image to social networks.” González Raga added.

Moreover, González Raga said, international condemnation of the situation in Cuba is welcomed – but much more is required. “Everything that is done to condemn the repression in Cuba is important, but we are concerned about the trivialization of the issue and that the authorities of democratic nations act as if it were a spectacle; It is not about getting a photograph, but about assuming a firm and permanent commitment in favor of change.”

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