Cuba: A nation standing for freedom

On 11 July, a spontaneous, peaceful demonstration took place in the town of San Antonio de los Baños. Participants and onlookers shared video of the protest live on social media and within hours similar protests were taking place in towns and cities across the country, with participants chanting “Homeland and Life”, (the title of a hit song by pro-democracy Cuban hip hop artists earlier in the year and a play on the Cuban Communist Party slogan “Homeland or Death”), “Freedom” and “We are not afraid”. The protests followed months of growing tension with major food shortages, a spike in COVID-19 cases which put the health system at risk of collapse and took place days after Hurricane Elsa passed over central Cuba. 

The protests appeared to take the government completely by surprise. President Miguel Díaz-Canel went on television and gave an ‘order to combat’, commanding all ‘revolutionaries’ to go out and reclaim the streets. Police and state security agents, in uniform and plainclothes, met the peaceful protestors with violence and detained or forcibly disappeared hundreds. The total number of those detained or disappeared is still uncertain but was over 500 as of 19 July.

Religious leaders targeted by the government

While some activists participated in the protests, the majority of those who marched were everyday citizens including people of all faiths and none. They included a number of religious leaders. 

While some have been released, CSW has confirmed that at least three Protestant pastors are facing criminal charges including “disrespect” and “public disorder”. 

The government has indicated that it will rush the trial process and is planning to impose harsh sentences of ten to twenty years imprisonment. It appears that it is trying to follow a similar approach to that of the Black Spring of 2003 when human rights activists across the country were arrested and given lengthy prison sentences.

Cuba's churches united in standing up for freedom 

Religious groups including the Catholic Bishops Conference and some of the largest Protestant denominations on the island, including the Assemblies of God of Cuba, the Methodist Church of Cuba, and the Evangelical League have published multiple statements over the past week condemning the government’s use of violence and affirming the right of all Cubans to express themselves peaceful, including through protest marches. The most recent statements from some of the Protestant groups have also called for the release of all of those detained for having participated in the peaceful marches. 

Please pray

• For the immediate release of Pastor Yéremi and Pastor Yarian, as well as all those detained for exercising their right to peaceful protest in Cuba.
• Pray for the protection of Pastor Jatniel from further intimidation.
  
• Asking God to strengthen Christians across #Cuba to stand up for justice and true freedom, while also acting as peacemakers. May he empower them to facilitate reconciliation and healing where there is division.
• For church leaders, asking God to increase their wisdom, courage and discernment.
• That these protests would mark the beginning of a new era of transformation for Cuba.
• Asking God to comfort and strengthen the families of those who've been detained, and to protect them from the actions of the government.

Cases of concern

Pastor Yéremi Blanco Ramírez and Pastor Yarian Sierra

Pastor  Yéremi and Pastor Yarian are tutors at the William Carey Biblical Seminary in Matanzas and both associated with the Berean Baptist denomination. Pastor Yéremi Blanco and Pastor Yarian Sierra are among several religious leaders who were detained and are facing charges.  Their families have had little news and are desperate for answers. 

Pastor Yarian's wife, Claudia made a powerful statement, shortly after her husband's detention.  She said that the men have been ‘incommunicado, practically kidnapped, disappeared’ as she publicly denounced their inhumane treatment. Pastor Yarian's wife and child were forcibly evicted from theirhome on 18 July. Claudia Salazar and the couple’s young son  were forced to leave their home after their landlord was threatened by state security that he'd lose the property if he didn't evict them. They are currently staying in a local church.

Reverend Jatniel Peréz

Reverend Jatniel, president of the William Carey Biblical seminary, is under constant surveillance by state security and has been prevented from leaving his home. He released a powerful statement of faith when authorities in Cuba tried to stop him from publishing information about detained pastors Yarian and Yeremi – two tutors from the Bible seminary he leads.

‘Today I received several calls trying to scare me into stopping publishing information about Pastors Yéremi Blanco Ramírez and Yarian Sierra [Madrigal]. They have called some of our pastors, trying to intimidate them.

In case any of you at State Security have doubts about who I am: I am Jatniel Pérez Feria. National President of the William Carey Biblical Seminary in Cuba and pastor of the Independent Evangelical Church in Velasco, Holguín. I am responsible for all the pastors and brothers who study in our seminary.

If it bothers [you] that I am saying these things, then you know very well where I live. 

If I have to suffer for defending pastors and churches, then here I am, like Paul I am willing to go to prison for defending the cause of the Gospel. I am not afraid of going anywhere.

You can do what you want with my body but my soul you cannot kill. I prefer to obey God rather than men…

I love my country. And I love my flag, where God placed me. And I will always defend the Church that Christ bought with His blood. Grace and peace.'

Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo

Pastor Lorenzo, his son David Lorenzo Rosales Carballa and a group of members of their church joined the peaceful march in Palma Soriano after they started around midday. He and his son were detained after police and military attempted to block the way of the protestors.   The authorities gave his wife a handwritten slip of paper which states that he is facing charges of ‘disrespect’, ‘public disorder’ and ‘attacks’. His wife was informed that Rosales Fajardo will be kept in custody until he faces trial.

Pastor Lorenzo's son, David, was considered disappeared for a week. He returned home on Saturday 17 July. His mother described him as physically unhurt but psychologically traumatized.

Read more...

Cuban Christians Connect Prayers to Protests
Anna-Lee Stangl, Joint Head of Advocacy and Team Leader for the Americas

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We have been treated like dogs, says wife of pastor detained after Cuba protests
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