A Cuban woman living on the island has voiced her outrage over the sentencing of influencer Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente, widely known as Anna Bensi, aged 21, and her mother, Caridad Silvente Laffita. The two were sentenced on October 1 to two years of restricted freedom for filming and sharing on social media the visit of an Interior Ministry officer to their home.
Aliennis Venega, describing herself as an "ordinary Cuban" who steers clear of politics, posted a video on Facebook where she reacted to the sentencing, which has drawn criticism from both within and outside of Cuba.
"What's happening is absolutely terrible. It's truly horrendous," Venega declared in the video.
The Fight Against Censorship
Venega openly criticized the limitations on free speech in Cuba.
"Cubans have no voice, no vote; they can't express their thoughts and are forced to remain silent and endure because that's the way 'they' want it," she lamented.
She also pointed out that those who choose to speak out often face retaliation.
"Anyone who dares to speak the truth, even without offense, is harassed, besieged, and treated like a criminal," she noted.
Legal Repercussions and International Reactions
The East Havana Municipal People's Court found Anna Bensi and her mother guilty of "acts against personal and family privacy," under Article 393 of the Cuban Penal Code.
The case began when they recorded and shared the March visit of MININT sub-officer Yoel Leodán Rabaza Ramos, who arrived at their Alamar, Havana home dressed in civilian clothes and sandals, to deliver a State Security summons.
Before the closed-door trial, Anna Bensi summed up her stance with the phrase, "It's not a weapon, it's a phone." After the verdict, she expressed feeling "tied up" throughout the entire process.
The human rights organization Cubalex questioned the use of Article 393, arguing that while it protects private intimacy, it should not prevent citizens from documenting public officials performing their duties.
On the day of the trial, evangelical pastor Rolando Fidel Pérez Lora, known as "Pregonero de Cristo," was also arrested on his way to the court to support Bensi. In another part of the city, State Security and police detained Christian activist David Espinosa Martínez.
Venega mentioned these arrests in her statement.
"That pastor who was also arrested without reason, without cause, without explanation. All this injustice truly affects us all," she asserted.
Condemnation from the U.S.
The sentencing also sparked reactions in the United States. The Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Juan Pablo Segura, labeled it a "cowardly act by the Cuban regime," while Cuban-American congressmen Mario Díaz-Balart, María Elvira Salazar, and Carlos A. Giménez demanded the unconditional release of both women.
Venega concluded her message with a statement that encapsulated her denunciation:
"I'm not political, I don't get involved in politics. But what is wrong is wrong, what is dirty is dirty, and what is unjust is unjust."
Key Questions About the Sentencing of Anna Bensi
What were Anna Bensi and her mother sentenced for?
Anna Bensi and her mother were sentenced to two years of limited freedom for recording and sharing the visit of a Ministry of Interior officer to their home, which was deemed as "acts against personal and family privacy" under Article 393 of the Cuban Penal Code.
How did the U.S. respond to the sentencing?
The sentencing received condemnation from the U.S., with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Juan Pablo Segura calling it a "cowardly act by the Cuban regime." Cuban-American congressmen also demanded the women's unconditional release.
Who else was affected by the trial?
On the day of the trial, evangelical pastor Rolando Fidel Pérez Lora and Christian activist David Espinosa Martínez were arrested as they attempted to show support for Anna Bensi.