For a fleeting moment, Cuban poet, mother, and activist María Cristina Garrido Rodríguez has been able to embrace her children again after spending four years and seven months behind bars due to her involvement in the July 11, 2021 protests in Quivicán, Mayabeque.
This reunion marks her first temporary release since being jailed, yet her complete freedom remains an unfulfilled promise.
Garrido was sentenced to seven years in prison on charges such as public disorder, contempt, and assault. Human rights organizations have criticized this as part of the oppressive response following the historic July 11 demonstrations.
Her sister, Angélica Garrido, was also arrested for the same events and received a three-year sentence. Angélica was released in 2024 and currently resides in Miami.
Photos of the reunion capture María Cristina embracing her children for the first time since her arrest.
Speaking to Telemundo 51, her sister highlighted that the release is temporary, and the activist is required to return to jail soon to continue serving her sentence.
“She is not completely free... she is on temporary release. She will return to prison on Wednesday,” Angélica stated, visibly moved.
Both sisters were detained after taking to the streets of their hometown, calling for freedom.
Since then, María Cristina's case has gained prominence among women imprisoned for the July 11 protests, due to her status as a writer and the reports of her harsh prison conditions.
Allegations of Abuse and Isolation
After her detention, Garrido was kept incommunicado for several days and later reported being assaulted in the penitentiary known as “AIDS Prison” in San José de las Lajas.
According to her husband, "she was beaten twice, urinated on herself, placed in a torture cell where she couldn't sit or lie down, and had to remain standing."
Her case gained international attention when it was revealed that she was placed in a “punishment cell” with feces on the floor after refusing to shout “Long live Fidel!”
Throughout her incarceration, her family has also reported harassment, isolation, and pressure within the penitentiary system.
Writing and Resistance
During her nearly five years of imprisonment, María Cristina has continued to write poetry.
Her works explore themes of freedom, motherhood, the forced separation from her children, and the experience of incarceration, strengthening her role as a civic and cultural voice of protest.
In addition to her work as a writer, she serves as the Executive Director of the Cuban Republican Party, an opposition group based in Miami with a presence in various parts of the island, which has amplified the political visibility of her case.
The temporary release serves as an emotional respite for the family, but it doesn't alter the sentence she still faces.
María Cristina must return to prison to serve the remaining years of her sentence.
The Case of María Cristina Garrido
Why was María Cristina Garrido imprisoned?
María Cristina Garrido was incarcerated for participating in the July 11, 2021 protests in Quivicán, Mayabeque, and was charged with public disorder, contempt, and assault.
What has María Cristina Garrido's family reported about her prison conditions?
Her family has reported allegations of abuse, isolation, and harassment during her incarceration, including being placed in a "punishment cell" after refusing to shout political slogans.