PEN Condemns Spate of Arbitrary Arrests Targeting Artists and Activists in Cuba

Photo: Fernando Medina (Shutterstock)

“Day of Repression” Marked by Interrogation and Intimidation of Artists and Activists in Cuba

17 February: PEN International and PEN America today condemned the temporary detention of at least six artists and activists in Cuba on Wednesday, including Yordanka Battle Moré, Adelth Bonne Gamboa, Rosmery Almeda (known as Alma Poet), Yamilka Lafita (known as Lara Crofs), Yulier Rodríguez, and Arián Cruz (known as Tata Poet). The artists were arrested and detained for several hours before being released. PEN International and PEN America denounced the detentions as part of the Cuban government’s continued targeting of artists for exercising their fundamental right to free expression. 

“The arbitrary arrests of multiple young members of Cuba’s artistic community are part of a broader systematic effort to silence dissent and to curtail artistic freedom in the island,” said Julie Trébault, director of PEN America’s Artists at Risk Connection programme. “Despite their quick release - they spent a few hours in detention - they committed no crime and should not have been detained in the first place. We denounce the Cuban state’s efforts to stifle the voices of the artists and activists fighting for a future in which artistic freedom of expression can thrive on the island.”

On Wednesday, YouTuber Yordanka Battle Moré and activist Adelth Bonne Gamboa were separately summoned by State Security. Concerns about their safety prompted other artists and activists to accompany Moré and Gamboa as they met with authorities at two separate Havana police stations. Each activist was detained along with their entourages. Battle Moré was questioned for her social media posts and attempts were made to accuse her of "incitement to commit a crime". During detention, the security forces reportedly subjected the artists and activists to threats, including menacing phone calls to family members. 

Upon being released, the artists and activists took to social media to denounce the abuse they suffered from the Cuban authorities. According to Adelth Bonne Gamboa, the street artist Yulier Rodríguez was detained without a citation for accompanying Gamboa to the police station. After his release, Gamboa refused to leave the police station without Rodriguez. Activist Tata Poet reportedly joined him at the station. They were both detained shortly after.

Numerous Cuban artists have been arbitrarily arrested and detained by state forces in the last two years following a sharp crackdown on artistic freedom and political dissent on the island. Many of these artists remain imprisoned today, including Luis Manuel Otero Alcantará, Maykel “El Osorbo'' Castillo Pérez, and María Cristina Garrido Rodríguez.

“In an impressive demonstration of solidarity and bravery, the artists and activists stood up against the Cuban security forces to demand the release of those who remained in detention,” said PEN International Executive Director Romana Cacchioli. “The international community must follow their example and continue to stand with the Cuban people to demand the respect and protection of fundamental rights to freedom of expression. By arbitrarily detaining and threatening its own citizens, the Cuban state continues to act unjustly and inhumanely.”

In November 2022, PEN International, PEN America and Civil Rights Defenders launched Voces Presas [Incarcerated Voices], a campaign to bring awareness to the struggles of artists currently imprisoned in Cuba. More about PEN International’s work on Cuba and Latin America can be found in PEN International Case List 2021.

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