Evangelical pastor Maikel Pupo Velázquez from the Sacred Blessing Word of Fire Church in Camagüey has been taken into custody after calling upon Cuban churches to hold a public prayer for the nation.
The arrest was brought to light by Darlon Bermúdez, the leader of the San Juan Methodist Church in Santiago de Cuba, through a Facebook post. He urged the community to pray for his fellow believer.
"His wife is in distress, and their eldest daughter is hospitalized in the cardiology unit," Bermúdez noted.
This is not the first time Pupo Velázquez has been detained. Back in July 2025, he was arrested while attempting to visit and provide medication to the families of two political prisoners from the 11J protests. Later, Christian Solidarity Worldwide confirmed he had been interrogated and threatened.
His arrest is part of a broader wave of religious repression that has intensified recently in Cuba.
Recent Religious Repression Cases
On October 1, Pastor Rolando Pérez Lora, known as the "Herald of Christ," was detained on his way to the Municipal People's Court in East Havana to support activist Anna Bensi during her trial.
The following day, Pentecostal pastor Ariel Limias Leiva was apprehended in front of the National Capitol and taken to Villa Marista, where he remains isolated.
Camagüey, the hometown of Pupo Velázquez, has frequently witnessed religious repression. Last January, State Security summoned and interrogated priests Alberto Reyes Pías and Castor José Álvarez Devesa, issuing them warning documents for their public criticisms. In September, authorities prohibited a church in Minas from delivering breakfast to the elderly and sick at home.
Violations of Religious Freedom in Cuba
Between January 2025 and June 2026, Christian Solidarity Worldwide recorded 667 incidents of religious freedom violations in Cuba. This includes 94 "Warning Acts" against religious leaders, which serve to intimidate and pave the way for future arrests.
On October 6, 21 priests from the Episcopal Church of Cuba, led by Bishop Ángel Roberto Rivera Rodríguez, released an open letter condemning the "violence, intimidation, and police harassment" against Cubans advocating for rights acknowledged by their own Constitution. They outlined a crisis characterized by "shortages of food, medicine, and water, irregular power outages, and the decline of healthcare and education systems."
Understanding Religious Repression in Cuba
What led to Maikel Pupo Velázquez's arrest?
Maikel Pupo Velázquez was arrested for organizing a public prayer event among Cuban churches, seen as a form of protest by the authorities.
How has the Cuban government responded to religious leaders?
The Cuban government has increased repression against religious leaders, including detentions, interrogations, and intimidation tactics.
What are some examples of religious repression in Cuba?
Examples include the detentions of pastors like Rolando Pérez Lora and Ariel Limias Leiva, as well as restrictions on church activities such as providing aid to the needy.