Accoding to the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, last year at least 996 acts against religious freedom occurred in Cuba, which “reflects an unalterable scenario of violations of the religious rights of citizens, despite government propaganda.” [1]
“In Cuba, religious freedoms continue to be violated in their various forms. It is a mistake to judge the climate of exercise of these rights only from the perspective of Church-State relations. Even from that limited perspective, in 2024 it was evident that they were not going through their best moment if we take into account the regime’s indifference to the local Catholic Church’s demands for the release of political prisoners.”
“Both the legal and bureaucratic limitations against independent churches and the harassment against their members, have repercussions on the common citizen who sees in the Christian communities a helping hand in the midst of so much poverty, especially after the disasters caused by the hurricanes.”
“Among the most frequent violations documented by the OCDH are the prohibition of attendance at mass, fines for religious leaders of churches not recognized by the State, harassment of Christians with a civic commitment, and denial of religious assistance to political prisoners.”
“Particularly, independent Christian churches, which are not recognised by the government and cannot be recognised, have been harassed by State Security. Several of their leaders, especially those who carry out important social work, have been summoned, fined or threatened with more serious legal consequences and confiscations.”
“In Cuba there are more than 60 churches, ministries or Christian congregations without legal recognition, including “Viento Recio” (Las Tunas), “God shakes Cuba and the Nations,””Emmanuel” (Santiago de Cuba) and “Palabra de Fuego Bendición Sagrada” (Camagüey).”
“Religions remain under suspicion. The existence of the Communist Party’s Religious Affairs Office and special counterintelligence units to ‘deal’ with religious leaders and infiltrate and monitor their communities do not correspond to the proclaimed secular character of the State and even less with the purported image of religious tolerance.”
“The climate of legal restrictions and harassment, especially against independent religious movements, affects their social work, since they are denied legal status. This lack of state recognition poses practical problems, for example, in opening institutional bank accounts or hiring employees.”
“At the beginning of 2025, Miguel Díaz-Canel committed to the Holy See to release 553 prisoners under the Jubilee Year, but the process, which has lacked transparency and fair conditions, is on hold at the time of writing this statement.”
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[1] In 2024, almost 1,000 acts against religious freedom took place in Cuba, denounces the OCDH, Diario de Cuba (Jan. 31, 2025).