José Daniel Ferrer Endures Daily Beatings During Hunger Strike Imprisonment

Relatives have reported a harrowing scene of "inhumane torture, beatings, abuse, and humiliation" inflicted upon opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer, who has been on a hunger strike for 11 days at Mar Verde prison in Santiago de Cuba. On Saturday, Ferrer's wife, Nelva Ortega, along with a cousin and his youngest son, visited him in prison. Despite numerous obstacles, they were finally allowed to see José Daniel, who was in a severely weakened state, according to a post on the official Facebook page of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU). "He is covered in bruises and extremely debilitated," the post stated.

Ferrer has been subjected to daily assaults since June 25th, when Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Pineda Guerra initiated a brutal attack against him. Others involved in the abuse include Lieutenant Chacón, Captain José Miguel Hechavarría Gorget (Head of Internal Order), Major Luis Yanez Herrera (Head of Educational Treatment), and Captain Liván Laugart Riquelme (Head of the Collective).

The beatings have been relentless, targeting Ferrer's head, arms, legs, abdomen, and back with kicks, slaps, and punches using whatever was at hand, leaving him soiled and humiliated. Six alleged common criminals were also involved in the continued assaults, with the aim of forcing him into a prison uniform, according to a distressing testimony.

Denied Basic Necessities and Continual Abuse

Captain Hechavarría Gorget has blocked the delivery of food, hygiene products, and medication, arguing that without a visit, no deposits can be made. Similarly, Captain Laugart Riquelme has refused to allow the passage of these essentials, echoing the same excuse.

Ferrer described Captain Laugart Riquelme as the worst among them, equating his cruelty to that of Pineda. Another beating occurred on June 25th, as well as on the 26th and 28th. From July 1st onwards, Ferrer has been subjected to daily abuse, with no respite from the physical torment. The beatings have escalated to include finger twisting, forced hand manipulation, and pinching his nose and mouth to make him drink milk. Additionally, he has been grabbed by the neck, simulating strangulation, to coerce him into compliance.

Escalating Torture and Threats

Since July 1st, Ferrer has been attacked at any given time, with the intention of making him drink milk, wear a prison uniform, and stand during inspections. The number of attackers varies, sometimes reaching up to ten. On the first day of July, he was nearly suffocated and drowned. When he refused the milk, he was soaked and left on the floor for over 24 hours. The drying milk attracted flies, causing him immense discomfort and pain, leaving him too weak to stand. It wasn't until more than 48 hours later that he was able to bathe.

Ferrer warned his family that if he were to die, they should leave the country, as he was threatened with their deaths and further misery. The oppressive regime vowed to imprison Nelva, send their child to a juvenile center, and target anyone associated with the Ferrer name.

The opposition leader believes the dictatorship is so desperate and blinded that they would not hesitate to kill him, and he is prepared to sacrifice his life rather than yield to their coercion. Despite his current state, he remains committed to fighting for freedom, democracy, and human rights.

Enduring Injustice and Isolation

Before June 25th, a prisoner with tuberculosis was placed near Ferrer, and due to his weakened condition, he fears contracting the disease. On June 29th, Ferrer began a hunger strike to protest his unjust incarceration and the inhumane conditions he faces in prison.

Since his latest arrest on April 29th, Ferrer has endured severe confinement conditions. The regime revoked his parole without clear legal justification, perceived by international observers as political retaliation. He was immediately transferred to Mar Verde prison, one of the harshest in the country, to serve a sentence imposed in 2020 in what human rights organizations have labeled an arbitrary trial. In mid-May, Ferrer informed his family that he was being accused of propaganda against the constitutional order and disrespecting Miguel Díaz-Canel.

Family members and UNPACU associates have raised alarms about the severe physical and psychological decline of the prisoner, noting his isolation and lack of regular access to visits or medical care.