In a recent appearance on the state-run television program Mesa Redonda, Mariela Castro Espín, director of the National Center for Sexual Education (CENESEX) and a prominent figure in the Cuban government, made inflammatory comments denying the existence of the Jewish people. She asserted that Jews have exaggerated their victimization to justify territorial occupation.
During the broadcast, Mariela Castro, daughter of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, corrected the show's host, Randy Alonso, when he referred to the Jewish people in a discussion about fascism. She claimed, "There isn't a Jewish people; there is a Jewish religion. They were many European people of the Jewish faith who were used, exaggerating their victimization."
Castro further argued that these individuals "utilized biblical myths" to occupy Palestinian lands, suggesting that this "occupation" was later bolstered by imperialist powers like the United Kingdom and subsequently the United States to maintain geopolitical control over strategic regions such as the Gulf and the Red Sea.
In her speech, she emphasized, "They are not Hebrews; they are of the Jewish religion, and many are also Christians, but they are neither Hebrews nor Semites." She controversially linked Zionism with Nazism, describing it as "the worst." According to Castro, Zionism was an all-encompassing "political supremacist movement," emerging shortly before Nazism and closely related to it, asserting that it now reemerges with significant force.
Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas in Gaza, Castro has previously criticized Israel and advocated for increased violence against it. Cuban Jewish communities have condemned her statements as a profound misunderstanding and distortion of history, labeling them as deeply antisemitic.
Years ago, a declaration from the Cuban Jewish community remarked, "As a public figure, it's impossible to separate oneself from who you are and what you represent to become a global citizen and express opinions, especially when they demonstrate a total lack of understanding and distortion of the moment and history."
The statement further clarified that Jews are not mere occupiers in the Middle East but a people forced to live in diaspora for thousands of years. Mariela Castro's words, they warned, "incite hatred towards Jews and jeopardize the stability and relationships that the community has maintained with their fellow citizens and religious peers."
The community also highlighted that Jewish students in schools across the country might now face "unusual scrutiny and treatment" as a result of her remarks. Despite the backlash, Mariela Castro continues to promote her contentious views from various platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mariela Castro's Controversial Statements
What did Mariela Castro say about the Jewish people?
Mariela Castro denied the existence of a Jewish people, claiming instead that there is only a Jewish religion. She suggested that Jews exaggerated their victimization to justify the occupation of Palestinian territories.
How did the Cuban Jewish community respond to Castro's remarks?
The Cuban Jewish community condemned her statements as a profound misunderstanding and distortion of history, describing them as deeply antisemitic. They emphasized that Jews are not occupiers but have been forced into diaspora for millennia.
What is the relationship between Zionism and Nazism according to Mariela Castro?
Mariela Castro controversially linked Zionism to Nazism, describing it as a political supremacist movement that emerged slightly before Nazism and was closely related to it. She claimed that it resurfaces with significant force today.