A 55-year-old Cuban man, known for his critical stance against the government and with no prior criminal record, is facing a potential sentence of five years and six months in prison for simply recording a line of people waiting to buy liquefied gas in Santiago de Cuba. Julio César Duque de Estrada Ferrer was detained on September 5, 2024, while using his cellphone to capture one of the many everyday scenes that illustrate the severe economic crisis plaguing the country: a crowd of individuals attempting to obtain domestic gas. What transpired next led to his current incarceration as he awaits trial.
According to the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH), this case exemplifies the state's repressive tactics to punish citizens who document social realities. The organization alleges that Duque de Estrada was assaulted by a counterintelligence officer who seized his phone. However, the prosecution's file states that he became aggressive and slapped the officer.
The prosecution's narrative, as accessed by OCDH, claims that the accused refused to put away his phone, was taken to a nearby market, and then attempted to record once more. Officer Mario Raciel Soulary Garcés demanded his ID card. While checking his information, Duque de Estrada allegedly took advantage of a momentary lapse to slap the officer, leading to a scuffle that resulted in his arrest and subsequent transfer to Aguadores prison.
Disproportionate Punishment for Documenting the Crisis
The prosecution is requesting a one-year sentence for disobedience, four years for assault, and ten months for resistance, totaling a combined sentence of five years and six months of imprisonment. Additionally, it is proposed that he be barred from leaving the country and stripped of his civil and political rights.
"The Cuban regime is more concerned with concealing the severe crisis than addressing the people's problems," criticized the OCDH, calling for an immediate review of the case, the release of the accused, and respect for his right to document and freely express what is happening on Cuban streets.
Julio César does not belong to any political or mass organization but is the father of Dairon Duque Estrada Aguilera, one of the July 11 protestors imprisoned following the historic demonstrations of July 2021.
This case is reminiscent of numerous other instances where the Cuban judicial system has been wielded as a tool of intimidation against citizens who raise their voices or simply turn on their cell phone cameras to reveal reality.
Key Questions Surrounding the Case of Julio César Duque de Estrada
What led to the arrest of Julio César Duque de Estrada Ferrer?
Julio César Duque de Estrada Ferrer was arrested for filming a line of people waiting to acquire liquefied gas in Santiago de Cuba, an act that authorities argue turned confrontational, leading to his arrest.
What charges is Duque de Estrada facing?
Duque de Estrada is facing charges of disobedience, assault, and resistance, which together could result in a prison sentence of five years and six months.
What has the OCDH said regarding this case?
The OCDH has condemned the case as an example of the Cuban state's use of its repressive apparatus to punish citizens for documenting social realities, and has called for the immediate review and release of Duque de Estrada.