The arrest of Cuban mixed martial arts champion, Javier Ernesto Martín Gutiérrez, known by his ring name "Spiderman," has stirred controversy after reports emerged of his brutal detention in Havana. On Friday, a group of plainclothes officers allegedly assaulted him before whisking him away in an unmarked black vehicle.
Journalist José Raúl Gallego was the first to bring this incident to light, sharing information from one of the fighter's relatives. "He was apprehended near the Jesús Menéndez sports complex in Marianao, at 90 between 41 and 43. Just two hours prior, he had posted a video of himself training," Gallego wrote. "A group of plainclothes officials in a black vehicle brutally attacked him before taking him away," he added.
The family remains in the dark about Spiderman's current condition or whereabouts, according to Gallego.
Spiderman's Peaceful Protest and Critique of Cuba's Crisis
Spiderman, who holds the championship title in the Cuban Fighting League's 135-pound category, had been engaging in a week-long peaceful protest from the balcony of his home in Havana's 31st Avenue, facing El Lido terminal. In his videos, he has been vocal about the dire humanitarian situation in Cuba, highlighting, "Women are scavenging through garbage and children are eating from trash, while some people have everything. There is no equality, not even in poverty."
Days before his arrest, Spiderman had warned that State Security agents were harassing his mother at her workplace, and he posted footage of agents' motorcycles stationed outside his home.
Reactions and Contradictions
On the sixth day of his protest, Spiderman declared, "The communist system is dead. You've seen state security, it's you all. Look at yourselves. No one is coming."
This arrest starkly contrasts Miguel Díaz-Canel's statements made during a NBC News interview on April 12, where he denied the existence of political prisoners in Cuba and claimed that no one is detained for speaking out.
Anamely Ramos, an activist from the San Isidro Movement, had warned of potential threats before the arrest, questioning, "Are they going to hunt this young man with their gangs of hired thugs? If they do, it will further expose the blatant lies of the so-called president."
Family and Human Rights Concerns
Earlier on the same Friday, Yonexi Gutiérrez, Spiderman's sister and a former political prisoner now living outside of Cuba, shared a video expressing her brother's isolation. "He's been alone for a week. He does have support from those outside, but within Cuba, he has no one," she stated.
Yonexi also remarked, "Javier cannot fear imprisonment. Do you know why? Because he knows the reality, and speaking as someone who has been imprisoned myself."
The circumstances surrounding his arrest align with tactics documented by human rights organizations regarding the detainment of dissenters in Cuba. Justice 11J has reported that there are currently 775 political prisoners in Cuba, with 338 unjustly sentenced for their participation in the historic protests on July 11, 2021.
Understanding the Situation of Political Arrests in Cuba
What happened to Spiderman in Havana?
Javier Ernesto Martín Gutiérrez, also known as "Spiderman," was reportedly arrested by plainclothes officers in Havana after being assaulted. His family is currently unaware of his condition and whereabouts.
How has Spiderman expressed his views on Cuba's situation?
Spiderman has been vocal about the humanitarian crisis in Cuba, highlighting issues such as poverty and inequality in his videos during a peaceful protest from his balcony.
What is the current status of political prisoners in Cuba?
According to Justice 11J, there are 775 political prisoners in Cuba, with 338 having been unjustly sentenced for their involvement in the protests on July 11, 2021.