Although mass protests did not take place as planned in Cuba following harsh government repression, small groups of priests, nuns and Roman Catholic lay leaders walked together through the streets in different parts of the island in support of nationwide protests called for 15 November.

Roman Catholic priests, nuns and other lay leaders marched in cities including Havana and Bejucal in Mayabeque province despite government threats of arrest and imprisonment. On 14 November, Roman Catholic priest Father Alberto Reyes reported that church officials had received a call from the government Office of Religious Affairs warning that if he and two other priests participated in the protests, they would be arrested.

In a video shared with CSW Father Reyes said: “[We have been told that], if we participate in the protest, we will be arrested.  We are priests in order to preach the gospel. And the gospel of Jesus Christ speaks of freedom, it speaks of justice, it speaks of truth. This is what our people are asking for. If being arrested is the price of being true to the teachings of the gospel – so be it. God willing tomorrow, we will be there - accompanying our people, walking in our streets which are still not free.”

In the weeks and days leading up to 15 November CSW received over 30 reports of religious leaders and freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) defenders across Cuba who were targeted by the government. Starting in late October, religious leaders were issued with summons by police and State Security, were interrogated focused on their position regarding the 15 November protests, warned against participating in any way, and threatened with arrest if they did so.  Some FoRB defenders were placed under house arrest in the week leading up to the protests.

Repressive tactics were used by the government throughout the day on 15 November. In the morning an organized mob supported by the government gathered in front of the Archdiocese of Camagüey. The mob shouted expletives and threats against the church and those inside for hours. Human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists across the island reported similar experiences.  

A number of religious leaders, including Reverend Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo and Roman Catholic priest Father Castor Álvarez Devesa, were previously detained in connection with the 11 July protests that took place across the island and surprised the government. Reverend Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo remains in prison awaiting trial while Father Álvarez Devesa was released but was told he would be tried for unspecified crimes in November. 

CSW’s Head of Advocacy Anna Lee Stangl said: “CSW continues to affirm the right of all Cubans to peacefully express themselves and commends the courage of the priests, nuns and lay leaders who walked through the streets in support of this right even in the face of threats of violence and imprisonment. We condemn the Cuban government’s continued use of repressive tactics to silence the Cuban people and its strategy to target religious leaders especially alongside human rights defenders with intimidation tactics. We urge the international community to communicate as clearly as possible to Cuba that this behaviour is unacceptable. Cuba must take steps to ensure that the fundamental rights to freedom of peaceful association and assembly and freedom of expression, and all other rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including freedom of religion or belief, are upheld for all.”

Notes to Editors:

1.       On 12 November, the group that had called for the peaceful protests, Archipielago, called off the demonstrations due to concern that the government was preparing to respond with violence. Most activists and human rights defenders, including religious leaders, were prevented from participating in the peaceful “civic march for change” as State Security operatives were stationed outside of their homes. CSW sources also report that public spaces such as parks and public squares were “full of military and police.”