"Enough of these crimes against me, murderers! Why do they imprison my son and not Sandro Castro?" These are the impassioned words of 76-year-old Haydée Galbán Casals, a Cuban mother whose emotional outcry echoes through a video circulating on social media, condemning what she sees as systemic injustice against her family by the Cuban regime.
Haydee is demanding the release of her son, Leonardo Cantillo Galbán, who was recently sentenced by Cuban authorities to 10 years in prison over alleged charges of pimping. Her family contends that the charges are fabricated, marking the third such accusation in over twenty years, which they describe as relentless persecution. "They have destroyed my life. I have two sons in Spain whom I haven't seen in 14 years, a grandson in the United States, and the only one I have here is imprisoned... Thieves, murderers!" Haydée laments.
Ricardo Galbán, Leonardo's brother and a Cuban activist in exile, has also voiced his protest. In a recently released video, he recalls being exiled nearly 15 years ago and describes how his family has since been targeted by State Security in Baracoa. "They have fabricated three separate cases against my brother Leonardo at different times. He has served over 27 years in prison. He was out on parole, working in a carpentry shop, abiding by the rules... and they came to arrest him again," Ricardo claims.
According to Ricardo's account, this latest arrest aims to revoke Leonardo's parole without a clear explanation, under a pretext that the family views as part of a repressive pattern against those who oppose the regime. He accuses Baracoa's State Security of being unable to tolerate his family's emergence as a symbol of resistance and dignity in a community increasingly shedding its fear. "What they cannot forgive is that my home has become a space for gathering, for messages of freedom, for people who refuse to remain silent," he states.
The plight of this family strikes a chord in a nation torn apart by repression, family separation, and forced exile. On social media, expressions of solidarity and calls to bring attention to Leonardo's case—one of hundreds of political prisoners currently filling Cuban jails, according to independent organizations—continue to grow.
Key Questions on Cuban Political Prisoners
What are the charges against Leonardo Cantillo Galbán?
Leonardo Cantillo Galbán has been sentenced to 10 years in prison under alleged charges of pimping, which his family claims are fabricated.
How long has Leonardo Cantillo Galbán been incarcerated?
Leonardo Cantillo Galbán has served over 27 years in prison across multiple incarcerations, according to his family.
What role does Ricardo Galbán play in this situation?
Ricardo Galbán, Leonardo's brother, is a Cuban activist in exile who advocates for his brother's release and highlights the ongoing persecution against their family.