Angie, the young Cuban woman who gained viral attention after directly challenging the leader of the French Communist Party, Fabien Roussel, has returned to social media after a two-week hiatus to expose threats made by the Cuban regime against her father, who remains on the island.
In a video shared on Instagram, Angie details the torrent of insults and intimidating messages she received following her confrontation with Roussel, which took place on September 9 during the television program "La Grande Confrontation" ("The Great Confrontation") aired by French channel LCI.
"This incident highlights two things: Cuba is a dictatorship, and if you're not with the Cuban communist government, you're labeled a terrorist. You communists have always been collaborators," she asserts.
She describes how some of these messages crossed any reasonable boundary, targeting her family directly.
"My father is in Cuba and has already been subjected to threats and intimidation directly from the Cuban communist government," Angie states, displaying screenshots of the messages. "He hasn't done anything, said anything. His only 'crime' is having a courageous daughter willing to confront tyranny."
Born in Havana and residing in France for over seven years, Angie warns unequivocally: if anything happens to her family on the island, the Cuban government will be solely accountable.
She refuses to be silent. "I won't be silenced; it would be shameful for me to do so, especially as I am in France, the land of liberty and human rights," she concludes. "Even though I'm afraid, I will always proclaim: long live freedom and down with communism."
The event that triggered these repercussions was her direct question to Roussel on camera: "Aren't you ashamed to support a dictator?" referring to the French politician's public backing of Miguel Díaz-Canel. Roussel declined to use the term "dictator," instead referring to Díaz-Canel as "President of the Cuban Republic," to which Angie retorted without hesitation: "He's a dictator; nobody elected him."
The confrontation video, broadcast by the program "Quotidien," has amassed over 672,000 views on Facebook.
Journalist Jean-Michel Aphatie labeled Roussel's response a "XXL lie" and emphasized the moment's rarity: "I had never seen a Communist Party leader confronted by a Cuban who fled her country due to deprivation of freedom."
Following the viral spread of the clip, Angie expressed gratitude for the support and vowed to keep speaking out. Her profile has surpassed 19,800 followers, and she declared, "I am Cuban, and as long as I have a voice, I will continue to raise it for my people." However, the public exposure has resulted in immediate consequences for her family in Cuba.
Angie's allegations reflect a common practice of the regime. According to a Prisoners Defenders report based on 200 testimonies from Cubans both on the island and in exile, 98.5% experienced threats, sanctions, detentions, or reprisals against family members due to their online activities.
The organization Cubalex has described this tactic as "repression by association": when the critical individual lives abroad, their family in Cuba becomes the primary target of pressure.
Understanding the Repercussions of Speaking Out Against the Cuban Regime
What triggered the threats against Angie's family?
The threats were triggered by Angie's public confrontation with Fabien Roussel, leader of the French Communist Party, where she challenged his support for Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel.
How did Angie respond to the intimidation?
Despite the intimidation, Angie has vowed not to be silenced, emphasizing her commitment to speaking out for freedom and against communism.
What is "repression by association" according to Cubalex?
"Repression by association" refers to targeting the family members of critical individuals who reside abroad, exerting pressure on them as a means of silencing dissent.