On November 20, the Alliance of Christians of Cuba (a group of about 60 leaders of registered and unregistered religious denominations and networks as well as leaders of independent churches on the island) issued a declaration criticizing the Cuban government’s failure to respect human rights. It asked international diplomacy and free countries to pressure the Cuban government “so that there is a bridge that allows Cuba and its citizens to live in a State where their rights as human beings are respected.“[1]
“It is no secret that our nation is facing a crisis in the political, social and economic spheres, as well as in human rights issues. As religious leaders, we are witnesses to these difficulties and we strive to provide hope to the most vulnerable: the elderly, children, women and relatives of political prisoners who suffer the absence of their loved ones for simply exercising their rights.”
“We observe with dismay that the Cuban State refuses to open spaces for the exercise of fundamental rights, such as freedom of association, which limits the churches in their capacity to provide support and social assistance to those who need it most. In addition, we have witnessed more than 40 femicides in the last year, a reflection of the serious state of violence in our society,”
“We have documented more than one million pesos collected by the Government in fines imposed on religious leaders, which represents a direct attack on freedom of worship and those who seek to help their community.”
“Those who suffer most from this critical situation in the country are women, who face the anguish of not having anything to feed their children. Those who dare to ask for help or demand some right are cruelly repressed, regardless of whether they are teenagers, elderly or have children in their arms. This repression only aggravates their suffering and further limits their chances of finding relief in the midst of the crisis.”
“The situation is even more alarming when you consider that 89% of the population lives in extreme poverty and that there has been no freedom for the more than 1,000 political prisoners currently in [detention]. We are also deeply concerned about the elderly and the chronically ill, who are especially vulnerable in this context.”
“The Alliance of Christians of Cuba was founded in November 2022 . . . Its main objective is to fight for freedom of association and worship on the island, and to work for the release of political prisoners, who currently number more than 1,000.” This Declaration was signed by 63 of its leaders.
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[1] Alliance of Christians of Cuba: “The Cuban State refuses to open spaces for the exercise of fundamental rights,” Diario de Cuba (Nov, 21, 2024). Religious leaders call for international attention to Cuba’s targeting of religious groups, CSW Global (Nov. 21, 2024); SW Global, alliance of christians of cuba (list of articles about Christians of Cuba).