Sissi Abascal Zamora, recognized as the youngest member of Cuba's Ladies in White opposition group, mentally revisited her past on Thursday, recalling the over four years she spent in political imprisonment at La Bellotex women's prison in Matanzas.
From her place in exile, Abascal shared images of the prison on social media, transforming her memories of incarceration into a protest for those still confined, particularly highlighting Sayli Navarro Álvarez, a political prisoner from the July 11th protests and her former cellmate.
"These photos are not just images of a prison. Every wall, every bar, and every corner represent over four years of my life spent in captivity there," the 27-year-old activist expressed.
Abascal arrived in Miami in May 2026 after being released from prison and forced to leave Cuba, facilitated by the Legal Rescue Foundation and the U.S. State Department.
Ongoing Struggle and Solidarity
Her post, however, extends beyond her own experience at La Bellotex. She draws attention to Navarro, who remains imprisoned in the same facility where they once shared confinement.
"Sayli Navarro still remains in that prison, a woman I've known for years and with whom I shared imprisonment. I was able to go into exile. She is still there, deprived of her freedom," Abascal stated.
Navarro was arrested on July 12, 2021, in Perico, Matanzas, when she went to a police station inquiring about demonstrators detained after the historic anti-government protests on July 11th.
Enduring Hardships
In March 2022, she was sentenced to eight years for assault and public disorder. Amnesty International declared her a prisoner of conscience in October 2024.
Unlike Abascal, Navarro has consistently refused exile offers from the regime as an escape from incarceration, choosing to remain in Cuba.
The conditions of her detention have worsened in recent months. In May 2026, she faced disciplinary action at La Bellotex, reducing her sentence reduction from 60 to 30 days after she publicly denounced the beating of her father, veteran dissident Félix Navarro Rodríguez, aged 73, in Agüica prison in April.
Furthermore, for 137 consecutive days, authorities prevented her from visiting her father, despite regulations allowing such visits every 45 days.
A Call to Action
Abascal, who knows firsthand the harsh conditions of La Bellotex, was labeled a "negative prisoner" for refusing to partake in mandatory political activities during her imprisonment there from December 2021 until her exile. Cuban authorities denied her requests for a less severe prison regime at least seven times.
Now free from those confines, Abascal believes her newfound liberty comes with a duty to those left behind.
"Those of us who have left these prisons have the responsibility to share what we witnessed, to remember those left behind, and to demand their freedom," she declared.
Her call for justice comes amid independent organizations continuing to report high numbers of politically motivated incarcerations in Cuba. According to Prisoners Defenders, by June 2026, there were 1,306 individuals detained for political reasons on the island, including 40 minors.
For Abascal, the images of La Bellotex now symbolize a painful divide between her life in freedom and the ongoing plight of the woman she once shared a cell with.
"I survived those walls. Sayli is still behind them. That's why I speak. That's why I protest. I will not be silent. Freedom for Sayli Navarro and all Cuban political prisoners!" she concluded.
Understanding the Plight of Cuban Political Prisoners
Who is Sissi Abascal?
Sissi Abascal is a young Cuban activist known for her opposition to the regime and as the youngest member of the Ladies in White group. She spent over four years imprisoned for political reasons before being forced into exile in the United States.
What is the significance of La Bellotex prison?
La Bellotex is a women's prison in Matanzas, Cuba, known for housing political prisoners like Sissi Abascal and Sayli Navarro. It is notorious for its harsh conditions and the political nature of many incarcerations.
Why is Sayli Navarro still imprisoned?
Sayli Navarro remains imprisoned due to her involvement in the anti-government protests on July 11th, 2021. Despite offers of exile, she has chosen to stay in Cuba, enduring worsening conditions in prison.