Wilber Aguilar Bravo, the father of July 11 protester Walnier Luis Aguilar Rivera, has accused prison officials in Sancti Spíritus of denying him access to his son. This accusation follows a grueling 300-kilometer journey from Havana, during which the family endured over 24 hours without sleep and arrived at the prison by 7:00 a.m.
In a video posted on Facebook, Wilber recounted how the family waited until 11:00 a.m. before being informed that the visit had not been scheduled. They were instructed to arrange it with State Security in Havana instead.
Wilber detailed the hardships faced before the trip: cooking with charcoal due to power outages, renting vehicles, and traveling with young children, only to be met with this disappointing outcome after a four-hour wait.
"We couldn't see Guarnier," he lamented. "We arrived at 7 and waited until 11 when they told us there was no scheduled visit, despite not sleeping for more than 24 hours."
At the time of this recording, Walnier had been separated from his father for over 44 days. That day, he called his aunt to convey a poignant message: "Your son didn't want clothes or anything, he just wanted to hug his daughters," Wilber quoted his son.
Wilber emphasized that this was not an oversight but a calculated punitive measure. "The order comes from Havana, from those hiding in the shadows whom no one recognizes, yet they dictate actions against the people," he asserted.
He also highlighted the disparity as other families were allowed entry that day, citing "inequality, racism, and more" as prevailing issues in Cuba.
Background on Walnier's Incarceration
Walnier, 26, was arrested in July 2021 for his involvement in the July 11 protests in La Güinera, Arroyo Naranjo. He received a 12-year sentence for sedition, which was reduced from an original request of 22-23 years. This sentence was imposed despite his documented intellectual disability due to a brain injury, a condition ignored by the court.
He remains the only one among his 17 co-defendants still in prison.
Since January, Walnier has been held at Nieves Morejón prison in Guayos, Sancti Spíritus, marking his third transfer to increasingly distant facilities from his family.
Ongoing Harassment of Wilber Aguilar
The harassment against Wilber is relentless. The Cuban Observatory for Human Rights has recorded at least six repressive acts against him in 2026 alone, including interrogation summonses, instances where agents barred him from leaving his home, and continuous police surveillance outside his residence.
Authorities have explicitly warned him that his social media activism could adversely affect his son's prison benefits.
In July 2022, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights granted precautionary measures to Walnier, extending this protection to Wilber and his family in January 2025, recognizing the severity, urgency, and risk of irreparable harm.
Cuban Human Rights and Prison Conditions FAQ
What are the July 11 protests in Cuba?
The July 11 protests, also known as 11J, were a series of demonstrations in Cuba in 2021, where thousands took to the streets to protest against the government, calling for freedom and better living conditions.
Who is Walnier Luis Aguilar Rivera?
Walnier Luis Aguilar Rivera is a young Cuban who was arrested for participating in the July 11 protests. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges of sedition despite having an intellectual disability.
What actions have been taken by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights?
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights granted precautionary measures to Walnier in July 2022 and extended them to his family in January 2025, citing a significant risk of harm.