Sissi Abascal Zamora, recognized as the youngest of Cuba's Ladies in White, recently shared insights into the harsh realities of female incarceration on the island and the human toll of opposing the regime. Her revelations came during an interview with Martí Noticias' "Tierras de Libertad," just days after arriving in Miami following nearly four and a half years as a political prisoner.
At the age of 27, Abascal was detained on November 3, 2021, in the Carlos Rojas area of Jovellanos, Matanzas province, for her involvement in the July 11 protests of that year. Jovellanos Municipal Court sentenced her to six years in prison on charges of contempt, assault, and public disorder.
The Price of Speaking Out
Abascal detailed the severe consequences for speaking out while incarcerated: "You might lose a visit, a conjugal visit, telephone privileges, or end up in solitary confinement," she stated in an interview conducted alongside her mother, Annia Zamora, also an activist and Lady in White.
Emotional Moments Behind Bars
A particularly poignant moment in her account was her separation from fellow inmate Sayli Navarro at La Bellotex in Matanzas. Navarro, sentenced to eight years for her role in the 11J protests, remains imprisoned. "To me, Sayli is the strongest and bravest woman. I say she is unbreakable. When they took me away, I wasn't allowed to say goodbye, but I ran to give her a kiss and started crying," Abascal recounted.
Her mother, Annia, narrated the enduring anguish from her daughter's imprisonment, including an incident where prisoners set mattresses on fire in their cell and authorities refused to unlock the door. "Four years, four months, fourteen days... tears of blood because only Cuban prisoners and their families truly understand what they endure," Annia lamented.
Family and Exile
Annia also revealed that her husband, Armando Abascal, chose to stay in Cuba with their son and grandson to support members of the Pedro Luis Boitel Party, such as Sayli Navarro, her father Félix Navarro—the party's president—and Francisco Rangel.
Abascal's release was facilitated by the Legal Rescue Foundation, led by activist Santiago Álvarez in Miami, through a humanitarian visa from the U.S. State Department. The organization Cubalex described her departure as "freedom conditioned to exile," a common tactic of the regime to expel dissidents. Her sentence was due to expire on November 5, 2027, leaving her with approximately 14 months remaining at her release time.
Despite the hardship of forced exile, Abascal expressed pride in her imprisonment: "I felt proud of why I was there, because I was imprisoned for raising my voice, for saying down with the dictatorship and long live free Cuba."
The activist arrived in Miami last Thursday with her mother and other family members. Both the U.S. Embassy in Cuba and the Department of State's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs welcomed Abascal, condemning her detention as "unjust" and acknowledging the pain of forced exile.
Abascal concluded her message with a pledge to those still imprisoned: "Do not lose hope, have faith, I will continue to raise my voice for political prisoners, for the everyday Cuban, until the day comes when the wall falls and we are back."
Understanding Political Imprisonment in Cuba
Who is Sissi Abascal Zamora?
Sissi Abascal Zamora is the youngest member of Cuba's Ladies in White, a group known for opposing the Cuban regime. She was imprisoned for nearly four and a half years as a political prisoner.
Why was Sissi Abascal imprisoned?
Sissi Abascal was arrested for participating in protests against the Cuban regime on July 11, 2021, and was sentenced to six years in prison for charges including contempt and public disorder.
How was Sissi Abascal released from prison?
Her release was facilitated by the Legal Rescue Foundation in Miami, through a humanitarian visa from the U.S. State Department, which led to her freedom conditioned to exile.