On January 1, 2026, Cuban dissident Berta Soler, the leader of the Ladies in White movement, was detained en route to the Peace Mass at Havana Cathedral, as reported by her husband and former political prisoner Ángel Moya Acosta.
According to Moya Acosta's Facebook post, the arrest took place around 2:40 PM in broad daylight, at the intersection of Porvenir Avenue and E Street, in the Lawton area of the Diez de Octubre municipality.
The activist indicated that the detention was carried out by paramilitary forces under direct orders from the State Security, as Soler was on her way to participate in the year's first mass, a peaceful and religious event.
"Paramilitaries detain Berta Soler," Moya Acosta wrote in his denunciation, alongside an image that, he clarified, depicts today's arrest on January 1, 2026.
Berta Soler is one of the most prominent figures in Cuban opposition and has garnered international recognition for her human rights advocacy. She has been awarded the Lech Wałęsa Solidarity Prize, and the movement she leads, the Ladies in White, received the Sakharov Prize from the European Parliament.
This arrest takes place amid intense repression against activists, dissidents, and religious or civic leaders, particularly on symbolic dates. It underscores the accusations by human rights organizations regarding the criminalization of peaceful exercise of fundamental freedoms in Cuba, including religious freedom and freedom of movement.
Understanding the Repression in Cuba
Who is Berta Soler?
Berta Soler is a prominent Cuban dissident known for her leadership of the Ladies in White, a human rights group advocating for political prisoners and freedoms in Cuba.
What is the significance of the Ladies in White?
The Ladies in White is a movement comprised of wives and relatives of jailed Cuban dissidents, recognized with the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament for their peaceful protests and advocacy.
Why was Berta Soler arrested?
Berta Soler was arrested while on her way to attend a religious mass, an act reflecting the Cuban government's ongoing repression of peaceful demonstrations and religious freedoms.