Berta Soler Fernández, the prominent leader of the opposition group Damas de Blanco, along with former political prisoner Ángel Moya Acosta, were detained on Thursday around 2:00 p.m. in the La Virgen del Camino area of Havana. The feminist platform Alas Tensas reported on Facebook, citing activist María Cristina Labrada, that the whereabouts of both individuals are currently unknown. This situation has sparked concern among human rights organizations and activists who have been closely monitoring their ongoing harassment.
Soler, a founding member and the visible face of Damas de Blanco, has been subject to systematic police violence and arbitrary detentions since the movement's inception in 2003, following the repressive wave known as the Black Spring, as highlighted by Alas Tensas. Her activism is focused on advocating for the release of political prisoners in Cuba, making her a target for surveillance, beatings, and weekly arrests, particularly after attending church services on Sundays.
Ongoing Repression of Cuban Dissidents
Ángel Moya Acosta, who is married to Berta Soler, was among those sentenced during the Black Spring and was released in 2011 after spending years in prison. Since then, he has continued to be an active participant in the peaceful opposition. Both Soler and Moya are emblematic figures in the Cuban dissidence movement and have repeatedly condemned the regime’s systematic repression against those advocating for civil liberties.
The Damas de Blanco were awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament in 2005, recognizing their commitment to human rights. Alas Tensas noted that nearly two decades after its founding, the group's members continue to face arrests, beatings, and fines on a weekly basis for exercising their right to peaceful protest.
Recent Examples of Regime's Intimidation Tactics
The detention of Berta Soler and Ángel Moya is not an isolated incident. It is part of a continuous strategy by the Cuban regime to silence opposition leaders, prevent their visibility, and stifle any form of civic mobilization, especially amid growing social discontent. In February, state security agents and police detained several Cuban dissidents in Havana as they headed to the funeral of Dama de Blanco member and former political prisoner Yolanda Santana Ayala, who passed away due to respiratory failure.
Berta Soler Hernández, alongside Marieta Martínez and María Mercedes Benítez, members of the opposition movement, and Ángel Moya Acosta, were on their way to the funeral home in La Palma, Arroyo Naranjo municipality, to bid farewell to Santana when they were intercepted by repressive forces around 10:30 a.m.
The harassment against Soler and Moya is part of a broader pattern. Cuban activist Yamilka Lafita Cancio, known as Lara Crofs on social media, reported on Wednesday that she has received death threats aimed at preventing her from leaving her Havana home. Lafita shared screenshots of threatening messages sent from a pro-government account with an openly violent tone on Facebook.
Key Questions About the Arrests of Berta Soler and Ángel Moya
Why were Berta Soler and Ángel Moya detained?
Berta Soler and Ángel Moya were likely detained as part of the Cuban regime's ongoing efforts to suppress opposition leaders and prevent them from mobilizing or gaining visibility.
What is the significance of the Damas de Blanco in Cuban society?
The Damas de Blanco is a significant opposition group that advocates for the release of political prisoners in Cuba and has been internationally recognized for its commitment to human rights with the Sakharov Prize.
How has the international community responded to these detentions?
The international community, particularly human rights organizations, has expressed concern over the detentions and the ongoing repression against dissidents in Cuba.