Young Cuban historian Alexander Hall Lujardo, 26, has publicly condemned a pattern of "harassment, political persecution, and arbitrary exercise of rights" by the State Security. Since 2023, he has been barred from leaving the country, and according to him, authorities are attempting to coerce him into self-incrimination to regain his freedom of movement.
Hall, a history graduate from the University of Havana and the coordinator of the book “Cuba 11J: Counter-hegemonic Perspectives on Social Protests,” stated that his travel restrictions were imposed a day after the presentation of the book, which critically examines the social unrest of July 11, 2021.
He described the situation as "an illegal practice masked as an administrative procedure," arguing that the restrictions serve as "a terminological subterfuge" to hinder free movement without judicial order or clear legal basis.
Political Motivations Behind Restrictions
The historian outlined a series of events that, he claims, demonstrate the political nature of the process:
In November 2023, he was nearly attacked with a knife during a police operation following an arbitrary arrest at the trial of essayist Alina Bárbara López Hernández. In September 2024, he was summoned to Villa Marista as a "witness" and informed that his travel restriction was due to an alleged criminal case against the independent outlet El Toque, with which he has collaborated intellectually. By November 2025, despite being accepted since August at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO) in Quito, authorities insisted they would only lift his travel ban if he agreed to participate in "extortive and humiliating acts," including public self-incrimination and the handing over of money and technological devices. "They demand my humiliation to restore my freedom," Hall declared, refusing to comply with these conditions.
Violation of Constitutional and International Rights
Hall argues that his case breaches multiple articles of the Cuban Constitution concerning freedom of thought, expression, education, mobility, and personal integrity.
He also referenced international norms such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which protect the right to leave one's own country, personal freedom, and protection from arbitrary interference.
"If authorities persist in blocking my exit, my commitment to republican, socialist-democratic, humanist, and national ideas is unwavering," he asserted.
Hall intends to file a constitutional protection claim with Cuban courts and urged regional academic institutions to pay attention to his case.
Support from Prominent Cuban Academic
Renowned critic Alina Bárbara López Hernández, co-president of the Cuban section of LASA, expressed her support for Hall's denunciation, calling the situation "courageous and well-grounded."
"I oppose the violation of his right to travel and study abroad, as well as the harassment of his freedom of expression," she stated.
She also warned about the Intelligence's methods, which, she noted, employ "mafia-like extortion strategies without written records," facilitating internal corruption and leaving citizens defenseless against abuse.
In concluding his denunciation, Hall alerted academics, diplomats, and regional organizations to the risks he faces. "What's at stake is not only my right to leave the country; it's my safety as a citizen and my ability to pursue my professional life," he emphasized.
As long as he remains in Cuba, he vows to continue defending his ideas and publishing in alternative media, academic journals, and public forums, "with the conviction that freedom of thought is non-negotiable."
Key Questions About Alexander Hall's Case
Why is Alexander Hall being restricted from leaving Cuba?
Alexander Hall claims his travel restrictions are politically motivated, imposed after he coordinated a book critical of the Cuban government. Authorities are allegedly trying to coerce him into self-incrimination to regain his freedom of movement.
What actions has Hall taken in response to his travel ban?
Hall plans to file a constitutional protection claim in Cuban courts and is calling on regional academic institutions to support his case.
What international rights does Hall claim are being violated?
Hall argues that his case violates international rights such as the right to freedom of movement, personal freedom, and protection from arbitrary interference, as outlined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.