In the early hours of Thursday, a riot erupted in the Canaletas provincial prison located in Ciego de Ávila.
Cuban dissident José Daniel Ferrer shared the incident on his Facebook page.
"URGENT! Anti-riot troops, gunfire, and the ongoing protest of political and common prisoners with shouts of 'Homeland and Life,'" he stated.
In a video, an inmate is heard claiming that a young man named Daniel was found hanging after being severely beaten by guards, casting doubt on the possibility of suicide.
Ferrer explained that the prisoners are demonstrating against severe hunger, abuse, beatings, lack of water, and poor hygiene.
"Due to the serious issues they face in that facility, which resembles a concentration camp, as do most, if not all, prisons in Cuba.
"The conditions under which political prisoners and common inmates live are truly horrific and alarming. Prisoners frequently die from tuberculosis, malnutrition, or a combination of diseases and malnutrition," he elaborated.
The UNPACU leader described how the inmates barricaded the doors, forcing the authorities to bring in welding and metal-cutting equipment to open them.
"We don't know what happened afterward, whether they have been beaten, are being beaten, or if they might end up killing some of those who organized or participated in this protest," he noted.
Questions About the Ciego de Ávila Prison Riot
What triggered the riot in Ciego de Ávila prison?
The riot was triggered by inmates protesting against extreme hunger, abuse, beatings, lack of water, and poor hygiene.
Who reported the incident on social media?
Cuban dissident José Daniel Ferrer reported the incident on his Facebook page.
What measures did the prison authorities take in response to the riot?
The prison authorities had to bring welding and metal-cutting equipment to open the barricaded doors.
What are the conditions like in Cuban prisons according to Ferrer?
Ferrer describes the conditions as horrific and alarming, comparing them to concentration camps, with frequent deaths due to tuberculosis, malnutrition, and other diseases.