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Cuban Freemasons Stand Firm to Reclaim Their Grand Lodge

Sunday, July 6, 2025 by Bella Nunez

With one hand on their heart and another on history, a determined group of Cuban Freemasons gathered outside the San Diego Lodge to assert their institutional sovereignty and call out the Ministry of Justice's silence amidst a crisis that threatens the foundation of one of the country's oldest fraternal organizations. "The building is not us," stated one of the brothers firmly, as reported by Cubanet, urging his fellow members to enter the headquarters while singing the national anthem.

This action follows an earlier incident on May 25th, when hundreds of Freemasons from across the nation convened in Havana to demand an extraordinary session of the High Masonic Chamber. With a valid quorum of 117 representatives and 121 Grand Lodge members, they succeeded in ousting Mayker Filema Duarte, who had arbitrarily suspended the internal elections scheduled for March in an attempt, according to the accusers, to hold onto his position indefinitely. The vote was decisive: Filema had to go, and Deputy Grand Master Juan Alberto Kessell Linares was appointed in his stead through regulatory means.

However, instead of supporting the lawful proceedings, the state retaliated and sought to delegitimize the efforts. The Ministry of Justice, rather than mediating impartially, backed the ousted Filema and later took an even more drastic measure by appointing Lázaro Cuesta Valdés as Commander of the Supreme Council, replacing José Ramón Viñas, a vocal critic of the regime. This decision was accompanied by a direct threat: if the Freemasons did not accept the new government-appointed leader, their bank accounts would be frozen, and they would lose their legal status as an association.

"We tried through all legal means, even secular ones, to assert our will... but the Ministry of Justice chose to endorse disrespect," lamented one of the brothers to Cubanet. Despite the legitimacy of their actions, Filema and his officials ordered the closure of all Lodge premises, forcing the Freemasons to hold sessions in the street, under the watchful eye of police, in front of the statue of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes.

Since then, members of the order have attempted to regain access to the Masonic premises without success. During a demonstration in June, several brothers, including Kessell Linares himself, were detained and warned by authorities. “Today we will enter and see what happens,” declared one spokesperson, as the assembled group sang the national anthem in a civic reaffirmation act.

Government Intervention and Masonic Resilience

The Associations Directorate of the MINJUS, led by Miriam García, has faced harsh criticism for initially backing Filema despite the legal evidence presented by the Freemasons. Recently, Deputy Minister Lilia María Hernández met with a delegation from the order, proposing a new Masonic session under the already ousted leader's command. The response was unequivocal: a flat-out rejection of any state imposition.

"The Grand Lodge of Cuba is sovereign and governed by its Constitution," asserted Kessell Linares. "If the government seeks to dominate us, we will not allow it." The Cuban Freemasonry, already rocked in 2024 by a corruption scandal involving former Grand Master Mario Urquía Carreño, now faces its second major crisis. But this time, the response is different: unity, mobilization, and a staunch defense of its founding principles.

"We are the legitimate guardians of this institution. Above all, we are bound by our oaths," declared another brother. Although they have yet to reclaim their temples, it is clear that Freemasonry lives in those who practice it with dignity, not in the walls that attempt to bar their path.

Questions About the Freemasons' Struggle in Cuba

Why did the Cuban Freemasons want to remove Mayker Filema Duarte?

The Freemasons wanted to remove Mayker Filema Duarte because he arbitrarily suspended internal elections, which the accusers saw as an attempt to maintain his position indefinitely.

What actions did the Ministry of Justice take against the Freemasons?

The Ministry of Justice backed the ousted Filema and appointed Lázaro Cuesta Valdés as Commander of the Supreme Council. They also threatened to freeze the Freemasons' bank accounts and revoke their legal status if they did not accept the government-appointed leader.

How have the Cuban Freemasons responded to the government's actions?

The Cuban Freemasons have responded with unity, mobilization, and a strong defense of their principles, rejecting any government-imposed leadership and asserting their institutional sovereignty.

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