Speaking from Mar Verde Prison in Santiago de Cuba, opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) has revealed his decision to go into exile. Described as a painful choice, Ferrer states it was made under severe pressure from the regime and driven by the necessity to safeguard his family. In a handwritten letter dated September 10, 2025, Ferrer exposes a series of systematic abuses and reaffirms his dedication to the fight for Cuba's freedom.
“For years, I have been subjected to brutal beatings, torture, humiliations, death threats, and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment,” Ferrer writes in the letter, which was shared by his family on social media. “My family has also been the target of relentless persecution,” he adds, attributing this violence to the regime’s attempts to force him into exile or abandon his activism.
A Painful and Frustrating Decision
Ferrer explains that he chose to leave the country before the raid on his home on April 29, when his parole was revoked, and he was sent back to prison. “Even before the latest raid on my home on April 29 this year, I had decided to go into exile to protect my wife and children,” he states. “This decision was made for my family’s safety and out of frustration upon realizing the disunity, sectarianism, and lack of effectiveness of the opposition both inside and outside Cuba.”
He also highlights that State Security has demanded he use his exile to discredit the fight for freedom, including manipulating his image. “They have been producing videos and recordings intending to publish them to cast doubt on our commitment to the struggle (...), videos and audios to portray us as supposed agents of the tyranny.”
Ferrer reveals that he has been pressured to marry on a symbolic date for Castroism: “They exerted strong pressure for me to marry my beloved partner, Nelva Ismarays Ortega, on the birthday of the deceased dictator.” Additionally, he claims they wanted him to ask the United States and the Catholic Church to resume negotiations with the regime. Ferrer is adamant: “I want to make it clear that if my life and my family’s depend on asking for such things, I would rather die in this Nazi-style concentration camp (...). I am ready to die but not to live without honor, without dignity.”
Inhumane Conditions and Cruel Treatment
The opposition leader describes living in extreme conditions: “I survive among common criminals capable of any crime and under the orders of the prison chief Vladimir Pineda, who harbors a deep hatred for me, and the political police.” He reports suffering “theft of my food and hygiene products, ordered by the regime’s henchmen,” and that threats against his wife and children “have been greater than at any other time in prison.”
These claims align with recent reports from his sister, Ana Belkis Ferrer, who noted that in prison, his food parcels and hygiene products have been stolen, he remains unwell without medical attention, and he is forced to share a cell with violent inmates and infiltrated agents. “Only the immense love I feel for my family and my commitment to non-violent struggle have enabled me to remain calm, gather patience, and not defend myself (...) using methods any human being would employ in such extreme circumstances,” Ferrer writes.
Exile as Strategy, Not Surrender
While he laments the deterioration of the opposition and the complicity of the free world, Ferrer insists that his departure is not a surrender: “I leave Cuba with my dignity and honor intact, and not for long.” He issues a symbolic and patriotic warning: “I planned to leave as Maceo and many mambises did, to return at the right moment as Martí, Gómez, and Maceo did. But I will not leave under the pressures and dirty play of the regime’s henchmen.”
Despite losing faith in many opposition members, he maintains “much faith in the good fighters who remain.” He concludes with an unwavering promise: “I will continue fighting until we achieve victory or die trying to see Cuba free.”
Ferrer was released in January 2025 under a conditional release regime, which he refused to sign, considering it illegitimate and incompatible with his commitment to Cuba’s freedom struggle. “I do not accept these conditions, give me 30 more years of sanction (...). Leave me in this concentration camp,” Ferrer declared at the time, reaffirming that he would not accept any measure that implied yielding or legitimizing the regime. “I have sacrificed my life and my family, whom I love deeply, to fight for my people. I will never abandon the struggle,” he assured upon his release, before being re-incarcerated three months later.
On April 29, 2025, the Supreme People's Court revoked his release and sent him back to prison. The return was justified by alleged failures to appear before the court, although various observers have denounced the process as politically motivated.
Ferrer’s case has sparked increasing international concern. The U.S. Department of State has demanded his immediate release, while Amnesty International has identified him as a prisoner of conscience subjected to torture.
Key Questions About José Daniel Ferrer's Exile Decision
Why did José Daniel Ferrer decide to go into exile?
Ferrer decided to go into exile to protect his family from the regime's extreme pressures and to continue his fight for Cuba’s freedom.
What conditions does Ferrer face in prison?
Ferrer reports living in extreme conditions, facing thefts of his food and hygiene products, and threats against his family, all while under intense scrutiny from the regime.
How has the international community responded to Ferrer's situation?
The U.S. Department of State has called for Ferrer's immediate release, and Amnesty International has designated him a prisoner of conscience.