Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is
marking the ongoing struggle and enduring courage of Cuba’s Ladies in White
ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March.
The Ladies in White (known as Damas de
Blanco in Spanish), many of whom are the wives and other female relatives of former
and current political prisoners, attend Mass on Sundays dressed in white to
symbolize peace, before walking silently through the streets of their town or
city.
The movement, which won the European
Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2005 and was nominated
for the Nobel Peace Prize, was formed in 2003 after a mass crackdown on
dissidents and journalists known as the Black Spring. Since 2010, all of the
Black Spring prisoners have been released, mostly into exile in Spain,
following dialogue between the government and hierarchy of the Roman Catholic
Church. However, there are still political prisoners in Cuba and the Ladies in
White are still active and growing in number.
They are often harassed or arrested and
beaten on their way to Mass. CSW’s latest report
on freedom of religion or belief in Cuba noted that scores of Cubans were forcibly
prevented from exercising their right to worship every Sunday in 2015, the
majority of whom were Roman Catholics and women affiliated with the Ladies in
White. This treatment has continued in 2016.
The report
states that “harassment and arbitrary detention was frequently accompanied by
threats and severe violence. Many of the members of the Ladies in White
reported being beaten during their arrest. On 1 February 2015, Mayelin Peña
Bullain was detained, beaten and kicked in the chest by a state security agent
named Ramon in Melena del Sur, Mayabeque province, before being imprisoned for
the duration of Mass. While most women were detained in prison cells or at
police stations during Mass, others were handcuffed and kept in hot cars in the
sun for up to six hours at time. In many cases, after their detention state
security agents dropped off the women in remote locations, forcing them to find
their own way home.”
It continues: “While government
officials appear to be primarily focused on Sunday morning activities, some
victims reported that they were also stopped from attending other weekday
events including midweek services, Bible studies and prayer groups. This would
suggest that the government policy is aimed not only at impeding the victims
from being present at Sunday Mass, but is also an attempt to isolate them from
their faith community.” Members of the Ladies in White, as well as other human
rights activists, were prevented from attending the activities around Pope
Francis’ visit in September 2015. The group’s leader, Berta Soler, was arrested
and reported that state security agents “dragged her by the hair and neck” to a
police car and later intentionally hurt her hands as punishment for having
attempted to attend Mass with the Pope.
CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas
said, “Every Sunday, the Ladies in White go to Mass knowing that they will
likely be harassed, arrested and beaten, putting their bodies on the line in
defence of freedom. International Women’s Day is an opportunity to highlight
their weekly act of courage and commend their resilience. CSW stands with these
brave women and urges the Cuban government to stop targeting them and others
like the Ladies in White who are peacefully exercising their rights as Cuban
citizens. We call on President Obama to keep Cuba’s human rights record,
including violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief in Cuba on
the agenda when he visits this month.”
Notes to Editors:
- Click here
for CSW’s latest report on Freedom of Religion or Belief in Cuba.