Amnesty International Demands Release of Sayli Navarro, Member of the Ladies in White, Deemed Prisoner of Conscience

On Tuesday, Amnesty International renewed its call for the immediate and unconditional release of Sayli Navarro Álvarez, a Cuban activist and member of the Ladies in White. The organization has labeled her a prisoner of conscience, as reported by Infobae following a statement shared by Amnesty International Americas under the campaign #CubaWithoutRepression.

This demand comes in light of a statement issued by Amnesty in October, marking two years since Sayli, her father Félix Navarro Rodríguez, and activist Roberto Pérez Fonseca were declared prisoners of conscience on October 23, 2024.

“Two years after being named prisoners of conscience, Félix Navarro, Sayli Navarro, and Roberto Pérez Fonseca remain unjustly stripped of their freedom. This means two additional years separated from their families, enduring the harsh conditions of the Cuban prison system, punished solely for exercising their human rights. Cuban authorities must release them immediately and unconditionally,” stated Ana Piquer, Amnesty International's Director for the Americas.

The Arrest and Conviction of Sayli Navarro

Sayli Navarro was detained on July 12, 2021, in Perico, Matanzas, when she approached a police station to inquire about demonstrators arrested following the 11J protests. In March 2022, the regime sentenced her to eight years in prison on charges of assault, public disorder, and contempt. She is serving her sentence at the women’s prison La Bellotex in Matanzas.

Her association with the Ladies in White began in 2003 after her father was among the 75 opposition figures, journalists, and activists detained during the Black Spring. Sayli joined the movement by visiting him in prison and has continued her activism for over a decade.

Worsening Prison Conditions

Conditions within the prison have deteriorated further by 2026. In May, Sayli was disciplined at La Bellotex, with her behavior benefit reduced from 60 to 30 days. This occurred after her mother, Sonia Álvarez Campillo, publicly denounced the beating Félix Navarro received from Major Yoslén Pedroso Sotolongo, the chief of Internal Order at Agüica prison, on April 8.

Amnesty International also highlights that Sayli remains in a facility without regular access to safe drinking water, and authorities have repeatedly denied her prison benefits under “reeducation” criteria. For 137 consecutive days, the regime prevented her from visiting her father, despite these visits being scheduled every 45 days.

A Systemic Pattern of Repression

Former political inmate Sissi Abascal, who shared a cell with Sayli at La Bellotex before being exiled in May 2026, exposed the penal conditions in August with a phrase summarizing the plight: “I survived those walls. Sayli is still behind them.”

This case exemplifies a broader pattern of repression. As of November 1, Cubalex recorded 677 verified political prisoners in Cuba, while Prisoners Defenders reported 1,351 by the end of September. The #CubaWithoutRepression campaign recently demanded the release of Donaida Pérez Paseiro and Loreto Hernández García, Yoruba leaders also imprisoned over the 11J events.

“Félix, Sayli, and Roberto represent many others in Cuba who have been jailed for protesting, dissenting, or defending human rights. Their sentences demonstrate how authorities continue to exploit the criminal justice system to silence critical voices. Expressing an opinion, participating in a protest, or advocating for human rights should never result in years of imprisonment,” concluded Ana Piquer.