On Friday 17 January at 8am, Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo walked out of prison with a smile on his face and release papers in his hand. He was met at the gates by his wife Maridilegnis, son David and daughter Lorena. This was the family reunion we had all been waiting for since 11 July 2021, when the Cuban pastor was unjustly arrested for peacefully protesting.

On 11 July 2021, we watched live footage of Cubans peacefully taking to the streets and calling for change and freedom. Initial optimism soon turned to horror as Cuban president Miguel Diaz Canel called for the protestors to be met with violence, sent paramilitary groups out into the streets, and began arresting those protesting en masse.

CSW started to receive reports of the arbitrary detentions of religious leaders; Protestant, Roman Catholic, and those holding Afro-Cuban religious beliefs. We began the work of documenting the cases, tracing their whereabouts, and establishing contact with their families.

While most detained religious leaders were released within a matter of days or weeks, Pastor Lorenzo was transferred to a maximum-security prison. He was clearly being targeted for his independent church leadership, and this was not the first time. In 2009, the family home (which also served as their church) was confiscated.

Yet even from behind bars, he was still serving the Lord – even baptising some of his fellow prisoners! One of them wrote to Maridilegnis:

‘I want to thank our Lord for putting Pastor Lorenzo Rosales on our path because he has been a blessing for us. He has been the instrument that the Lord chose for the truth to come into our lives so that many could come out of the darkness into the light.’

Watch the moment Pastor Lorenzo was released: csw.org.uk/FreePastorLorenzo

Ever since his unjust detention, thousands of people have been standing in solidarity with the whole family. You prayed as the pastor was held incommunicado and subjected to inhumane treatment. You persisted through the days of his trial on trumped-up charges and, months later, as we learned that he had been unfairly sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment.

Many of you joined us in protesting outside the Cuban embassy in London, and watched as they pushed our torn-up petition back out from under the door.

You supported us through prayer and giving as we prepared and submitted his case to United Nations special procedures – which ultimately found that the pastor had been subjected to arbitrary detention and a series of other violations of his fundamental human rights.

You gave thanks with us when Pastor Lorenzo was moved to a minimum-security prison closer to his home and was able to receive more frequent family visits. Through it all you regularly sent letters to Pastor Lorenzo and his family. He told us:

‘I have many letters, I want to put them all on the floor for a photo and send it to CSW to thank all the brothers and friends who encouraged us and supported us. It is very nice to receive them, I gave many to the prisoners who asked me for one, who had never received a letter. Most of them praised the Lord when I gave it to them. They also got excited; it is a unique experience. Thank you.’

We stood in solidarity, and now we share in their joy at his release on 17 January 2025. It was part of an agreement negotiated by President Joe Biden, the Vatican and the Cuban government. Also set free was the Afro-Cuban Yoruba religious leader, Donaida Pérez Paseiro. Unfortunately, her husband Loreto Hernández García remains in prison.

‘I could not have done it alone’

Pastor Lorenzo’s case is not over. Although he is out of prison and with his family, they are under intense pressure to leave Cuba and go into exile. His ability to work as a pastor will be restricted as the government continues to fear his influence. He has already been subjected to harassment and threats from Cuban security officials, who are trying to intimidate and socially isolate him.

However, Pastor Lorenzo and his family understand something that the Cuban government cannot: they know they are not and will never be alone.

Over the past three years, they have seen evidence of this again and again through your prayers, protesting and providing. Pastor Lorenzo gave us a message to pass on:

‘You are very good brothers and great friends… I could not have done it alone, thank you, thank you. I am actually crying at these moments of so much joy, remembering all the work that you have done and are doing in our favour. THANK YOU and thank you LORD.’

‘Like Pastor Lorenzo and his family, I know that you played a major role in every breakthrough we have seen in his case,’ said Anna Lee Stangl, Joint Director of Advocacy. ‘I am so grateful that I can count on people like you to persist – not only on their behalf, but for the many others who are targeted around the world because of their religion or belief.’

A snapshot of our collective action:

Your campaigning

Thousands of CSW supporters in the UK campaigned for Pastor Lorenzo’s release! The Cuban Ambassador in the UK received over 5,000 emails about the case, and we held two protests outside the Cuban Embassy in London.

In the media

Pastor Lorenzo’s case was covered in over 27 different media outlets using our case materials. His story has been told across blogs, TV interviews, podcasts and radio interviews.

With the UK Parliament

As a result of our advocacy, the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief published a statement condemning the Cuban government’s targeting of religious leaders, including Pastor Lorenzo.

The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, wrote to Pastor Lorenzo on Human Rights Day 2024. He expressed the UK government’s solidarity and continued commitment to advocating for the pastor’s release.

In the United States

After we briefed staff on his case, Pastor Lorenzo was added to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom’s (USCIRF) FoRB Victims List.

At the United Nations

We raised his case regularly at the UN, including giving a statement at the Human Rights Council calling for Pastor Lorenzo’s unconditional release.

In Europe

We briefed European diplomats, which led to the EU Delegation raising Pastor Lorenzo’s case directly with the Cuban authorities. The Embassy of the Netherlands also later hosted David (Pastor Lorenzo’s son) at a meeting with European diplomats.

It took 1,286 days to free Pastor Lorenzo. 

We were persistent in our strategic advocacy, month after month, thanks to the generosity of CSW supporters like you. With your help, we can persist in speaking out for other people around the world, until they see freedom and justice: csw.org.uk/donate