The non-governmental organization Cubalex has raised alarms over an escalating pattern of repression in Cuba that not only targets political dissidents but also deliberately extends to their families as a form of punishment and intimidation. Documenting recent cases like those of José Daniel Ferrer and Félix Navarro, the organization has identified systematic violations of the right to privacy, family integrity, and religious freedom.
Family Harassment: From Homes to Children
On April 29, State Security agents stormed into José Daniel Ferrer's home in Santiago de Cuba. After his arbitrary arrest, his wife, Nelva Ortega, and their young son were forcibly removed from their home and taken to a so-called "protection house" lacking basic conditions. According to Cubalex, this act represents a camouflaged harassment under the guise of legality, with implicit threats of losing custody of the child.
Cubalex warns that this pattern leverages the new Family Code as a coercive tool, turning minors into political pressure pawns against their parents. Although protection is cited, the state manipulates children into participating in acts of repudiation and ideological displays, such as forcing schoolchildren to chant slogans outside Ferrer's residence following his arrest.
The Navarro Case: Emotional Repression and Medical Surveillance
On the same day, Félix Navarro was detained in Matanzas on a strategically chosen date to prevent his daughter, also a political prisoner, from visiting him. In the preceding weeks, he was detained seven consecutive Sundays for attempting to attend church, highlighting a pattern of religious persecution.
Cubalex exposes the arbitrary use of surveillance cameras by Security agents and the presence of unsolicited medical personnel during arrests, allegedly to "take blood pressure." Rather than serving humanitarian purposes, these practices intensify psychological control and humiliate the detainee, particularly in a context where medical resources are scarce for the general population.
Impact on the Most Vulnerable
Sonia Álvarez, Navarro's wife, has also suffered from state punishment. She has been denied the right to visit her daughter, Saylí Navarro, in prison on six consecutive occasions, solely for wearing white in reference to her activism with the Ladies in White.
Moreover, Zoila Esther Chávez, mother of political prisoner José Gabriel Barrenechea, passed away on May 4 without being able to bid farewell to her son. The 84-year-old woman had lost her voice and had labored breathing. Despite her pleas, the regime did not allow her to see her son in her final moments.
Cubalex emphasizes that these acts of emotional retaliation aim to fracture family bonds as a political deterrent. Families are no longer sanctuaries but have become direct targets of institutional violence.
Systematic Human Rights Violations
These actions infringe upon fundamental principles enshrined in international instruments like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which prohibit arbitrary interference in family life and guarantee the right to religious freedom and protection against state intimidation.
Cubalex warns that the international community cannot continue to overlook this pattern of structural repression, where violence is no longer confined to activists but is executed against their closest loved ones—children, spouses, and parents—in an attempt to break their resilience through emotional harm.
Understanding the Impact of Cuban Political Repression
What is the new pattern of repression in Cuba?
The new pattern of repression in Cuba involves targeting not only political dissidents but also their families, using intimidation tactics such as harassment and manipulation of family dynamics to exert pressure.
How are children being used in political repression?
Children are being used as tools of political pressure, coerced into participating in acts of repudiation and ideological displays, effectively turning them into pawns against their own families.
What international laws are being violated by these actions?
These actions violate international laws such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which protect against arbitrary interference in family life and guarantee religious freedom.