Ania Gómez Leiva, the mother of Cuban doctor Erlis Sierra Yau, was released after being detained for a few hours this past Saturday. Her arrest followed the posting of a video in which she demanded her son's freedom. "Ania Gomez Leyva, mother of pediatrician Erlis Sierra, has been released. She was interrogated because of the video we exclusively shared on our page. She's now home and standing firm for her son," reported journalist Yosmany Mayeta on Facebook. Independent journalists, including Mayeta, had previously confirmed her detention following protests in Baire on Thursday.
In a statement shared on Mayeta's account, the distraught mother explained the circumstances surrounding her son's arrest and pleaded for help from the Cuban people. "This is the mother of doctor Erlis Sierra Gómez speaking. This morning, two officers from the PNR showed up at my home. They came for him without a summons, saying he needed to present himself at the Contramaestre unit, claiming they just wanted to talk with him," she recounted in the video that led to her own detention.
The young pediatrician and father of two was taken to the police operations center in Santiago de Cuba. Gómez Leiva described accompanying her son to the police unit, where he was supposedly going to give a statement. "Minutes later, a young man who knows him approached us. People know him here and in Contramaestre because of who he is—a doctor who helps the community, saving lives. Even when there are no resources, he treats patients at home," she said.
The young man warned her that her son was taken out the back door, handcuffed, along with another protester. "I went crazy, asking for help; I'm desperate," she exclaimed. This Cuban mother sought out the First Secretary of the local Party, who knew "that her son never beat any pans, he only asked to speak."
After her son's protest, she noted, "thankfully, the milk truck arrived," after months of children going without milk. "I'm desperate, I know nothing of him. My son didn't beat any pots nor did he attack anyone; he only called for solutions for the people," she declared, visibly upset.
Sierra, Gómez Leiva's son, became a prominent figure in the peaceful protests in Baire after a video of him demanding local authorities address shortages of water, food, and basic services went viral. He reminded them that the Cuban Constitution guarantees freedom of expression. "I'm not afraid to go there because here in the Constitution I have the right to free speech," he asserted during an exchange with municipal leaders.
The demonstrations in Baire, part of the Contramaestre municipality, have been some of the most significant in Santiago de Cuba since July 2021. On Thursday night, residents banged pots and shouted "Freedom!" and "Down with Díaz-Canel!" during a blackout that lasted over 30 hours. Shortly after, the regime cut off Internet access and deployed police to quell the protests.
In addition to Sierra, Osmani Heredia and Humberto Nieto Sierra, the latter a nurse at the Orlando Pantoja Tamayo Hospital, were also detained. Activists and residents accuse the government of a "witch hunt" against protesters, involving summonses, threats, and surveillance in the most active neighborhoods.
Meanwhile, on social media, the hashtag #FreeErlisSierra continues to gather support from both inside and outside the island. Users and human rights organizations are demanding his immediate release and an end to the repression of those who protested peacefully in Baire. So far, Cuban authorities have not provided official information regarding Erlis Sierra's whereabouts or the charges against him.
Understanding the Situation in Baire
Why was Ania Gómez Leiva detained?
Ania Gómez Leiva was detained due to a video she posted demanding the release of her son, Erlis Sierra Yau, which led to her being interrogated by authorities.
What prompted the protests in Baire?
The protests in Baire were sparked by long-standing shortages of essential services such as water, food, and electricity, coupled with a recent prolonged blackout.
Who else was detained alongside Erlis Sierra?
Osmani Heredia and Humberto Nieto Sierra, a nurse, were also detained as part of the government's clampdown on protesters in Baire.