A Cuban mother has raised an outcry after discovering that state television used a photo of her son, taken when he was just six years old, without permission, in a political campaign opposing the U.S. embargo.
Yinet Fundora Rivera shared on Facebook a video explaining that she found out about this incident through a call from her own mother. She informed her that Cristian, now 20 and living abroad since years ago, was featured on Cuban television.
The photo shows the young boy with an eye condition, alongside the message: "He shouldn't lack his treatment / thousands of patients rely daily on essential medications,” paired with the logo of the campaign "Cuba is no threat, the blockade is," which was broadcasted by Cuban TV during a press conference by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla.
"Folks, that child you see in the photo was six years old at the time," Fundora explained.
Unauthorized Use of Old Photographs Sparks Outrage
According to her, the photograph was initially taken for an exhibition and later circulated both within Cuba and internationally. "That photo of Cristian traveled around the world," she remarked.
The mother expressed her disbelief at the use of an image from approximately 14 years ago to represent the current scarcity of medicines on the island.
"Folks, that child is 20 years old now. How can you use pictures of my son at six? Thousands need medications, what is this, for heaven's sake?" she protested.
Manipulation Accusations Against the Regime
Fundora also pointed out that her son is now a U.S. citizen and has not resided in Cuba for a long time.
In a follow-up video, she described what happened as "a blatant and cruel manipulation."
"Taking a photo of my son from many years ago to fabricate a story that has nothing to do with his reality," she denounced.
In response to suggestions of pursuing legal action, the mother replied: "Lawsuit, against whom and where? I have nothing to do with Cuba anymore, and neither does my son."
Context of the Anti-Embargo Campaign
The exposure of this incident coincides with the Cuban government's campaign surrounding its annual report on the embargo. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla presented the document on Monday at a press conference, stating that the accumulated damages are estimated at $178.7 billion at current prices.
This is not the first controversy involving the use of children's images to blame the embargo for health issues in Cuba.
Back in February, former spy Gerardo Hernández was criticized for using a photo of an Argentine baby in a post about the consequences of U.S. sanctions. In April, Cubadebate featured cases of children with cancer to highlight the embargo's impact.
Understanding Cuba's Misuse of Children's Images in Propaganda
Why did Cuban television use Cristian's photo without permission?
The photo was used as part of an anti-embargo political campaign to illustrate the impact of the U.S. embargo on Cuba's healthcare system.
What has been the reaction of Cristian's mother to this incident?
Cristian's mother, Yinet Fundora Rivera, has publicly criticized the manipulation of her son's image, describing it as a deceptive and heartless act.
Has there been a previous controversy involving children's images in Cuba?
Yes, there have been several instances, including the use of a photo of an Argentine baby and images of children with cancer, to blame the U.S. embargo for health issues in Cuba.