Former Spanish politician Rocío Monasterio announced on Wednesday via her Instagram account that she will become the political godmother of two Cuban dissidents: Roilán Álvarez Rensoler and Guillermo del Sol Pérez. This move is part of the #ApadrinaUnPresoPolítico campaign organized by the Casla Institute.
“As of today, I have the honor of being the godmother to two Cuban political prisoners: Roilán Álvarez Rensoler and Guillermo del Sol. Both have been imprisoned for standing up for the freedom of all Cubans and opposing the murderous regime in Havana led by Raúl Castro and his puppet Díaz-Canel,” Monasterio stated.
She continued, “Roilán and Guillermo, you will not be abandoned. We are proud of your courage and bravery. We will fight for your freedom, hang in there.”
Monasterio's Commitment to Cuban Freedom
Monasterio, who identified herself in a video as “Hispano-Cuban,” vowed to amplify the voices and stories of these men and their families from Spain, saying, “I hope that soon, very soon, when you regain your freedom, we can embrace together and shout, ‘Long live a free Cuba!’”
Roilán Álvarez Rensoler, a member of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) and a promoter of Cuba Decide, was arrested on January 30 in the Mella municipality, Santiago de Cuba. He was charged with “propaganda against the constitutional order” due to anti-government graffiti and damage to a billboard featuring Fidel Castro.
Struggles of Cuban Dissidents
Following his arrest, Álvarez engaged in a hunger strike for nearly 50 days, resulting in a cardiac collapse and subsequent hospitalization in March. In July, he suffered a severe beating in Holguín's provincial prison, fracturing both arms and receiving head injuries, reportedly for refusing to wear the standard prison uniform, as per his sister's accusations.
In early August, the regime conditioned his release on his family purchasing a ticket to Guyana for him to leave the country.
Guillermo del Sol Pérez, an activist with Cuba Decide based in Santa Clara, is not currently imprisoned, although Monasterio portrays him as a political prisoner. Since June 19, he has been on a hunger strike at his home, demanding the release of 18 political prisoners from Villa Clara, including Félix Navarro Rodríguez and Mayelín Rodríguez Prado.
As his hunger strike reached day 61, his condition is described as critical and perilous by his family and human rights organizations.
On August 5, amid visible health deterioration, del Sol declared, “I do not want to die.”
Monasterio's Cuban Ties and Advocacy
Rocío Monasterio, a former leader of the Spanish party Vox, has Cuban roots; her father was Cuban of Asturian descent, and the family owned sugar businesses in Cienfuegos that were confiscated after the revolution, leading to their exile in Spain. She holds dual Spanish-Cuban citizenship and has consistently voiced her criticism of the regime in Havana.
The Casla Institute, led by activist Tamara Sujú, drives the campaign by pairing public figures as godparents to those imprisoned for political reasons in Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Iran, and Russia, aiming to maintain awareness of their situations.
According to Sujú, the initiative has supported 93 godchildren, with 54 having been freed.
Understanding the Campaign to Support Cuban Political Prisoners
What is the #ApadrinaUnPresoPolítico campaign?
The #ApadrinaUnPresoPolítico campaign is an initiative by the Casla Institute to pair public figures with political prisoners in countries like Cuba, Venezuela, and Russia, to raise awareness and advocate for their release.
Who are Roilán Álvarez Rensoler and Guillermo del Sol Pérez?
Roilán Álvarez Rensoler and Guillermo del Sol Pérez are Cuban dissidents associated with opposition movements. Álvarez is imprisoned for anti-government activities, while del Sol is on a hunger strike advocating for the release of political prisoners.
What is Rocío Monasterio's connection to Cuba?
Rocío Monasterio has Cuban heritage; her father was Cuban, and her family had business interests in Cuba before the revolution. She holds dual citizenship and is a vocal critic of the Cuban regime.