The Cuban regime has once again displayed its most inhumane face by preventing the entry into the country of Pastor Alain Toledano Valiente, who is desperately trying to be with his eldest daughter, Susana, 35 years old, diagnosed with advanced breast cancer.
The religious leader, exiled in the United States since 2022, has reported that the authorities regard him as a "threat to State Security," preventing him from boarding flights to the island.
"Every Cuban has the right to be in their own land and, if they leave, to return whenever they wish. No ruler has the right to take that privilege away from a citizen", Toledano stated in an interview with Martí Noticias.
The pastor, who suffered more than two decades of harassment by State Security due to his leadership in the Apostolic Movement, an unofficial Protestant Christian network, exiled himself along with his wife and two young daughters after enduring constant pressure from the regime.
Susana was diagnosed with the disease shortly after her father's passing. She is currently facing health complications and requires another surgical intervention.
"My desire is to return to Cuba to be by her side, to support her, to be there and watch over her health", stated Toledano, who fears for his daughter's life due to the shortcomings of the Cuban healthcare system.
Despite having no legal charges pending in the island, the pastor has been informed by his lawyer in Cuba that his entry is prohibited. "The regime claims that I am a threat to State Security", he reported. In fact, he was recently prevented from attending the funeral of a close cousin.
International human rights organizations have condemned the decision of the Cuban government. Anna Lee Stangl, Director of Political Advocacy at Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), called on the ruling Miguel Díaz-Canel and the Minister of the Interior, Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, to immediately lift the ban that prevents the pastor from returning to his country for humanitarian reasons.
The Cuban regime has implemented a systematic policy of "forced exile" against critical voices, preventing their return to the country as a form of punishment and control.
In 2022, the art curator and activist of the San Isidro Movement Anamely Ramos was prevented from boarding a flight to Cuba, despite having a ticket and valid documents.
The immigration authorities informed him that the Cuban government did not allow him to enter. Ramos has reported that “they won’t let me return to my country because they are afraid that what I say from the outside, I will also say from the inside”.
The same situation has been faced by siblings Omara and Ariel Ruiz Urquiola. The former, an activist and university professor, was banned from entering Cuba after publicly denouncing the human rights situation and the healthcare system.
Despite suffering from cancer, she has been forcibly separated from her family, which has led to strong international criticism.
For his part, his brother Ariel, a biologist and activist, was imprisoned and later allowed to leave the country after a hunger strike. From exile, he has exposed the regime to organizations like the UN, and he has been punished with a ban on re-entering the island.
These actions violate Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which establishes the right of every citizen to return to their country, and are even more reprehensible in a regime that presents itself before international bodies, including the United Nations, as a defender of rights that it constantly violates. This practice, condemned by organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, constitutes a form of transnational repression.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Ban on Pastor Alain Toledano's Return to Cuba
Why does the Cuban regime prevent Pastor Alain Toledano from returning to Cuba?
The Cuban regime considers pastor Alain Toledano a "threat to State Security" due to his leadership in the Apostolic Movement, an officially unrecognized Protestant Christian network in Cuba. Toledano has been a critical voice against the regime, which has led the authorities to prevent him from returning to the island, even for humanitarian reasons such as visiting his daughter who is suffering from cancer.
Are there other cases of Cubans who have been prohibited from returning to their country?
Yes, the Cuban regime has implemented a policy of "forced exile" against critical voices. Examples of this include art curator Anamely Ramos and the brothers Omara and Ariel Ruiz Urquiola, who have been barred from entering the country after denouncing the human rights situation in Cuba. These actions violate Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
What are the consequences of forced exile by the regime for Cuban families?
Forced exile creates a painful separation among family members. In the case of Pastor Alain Toledano, this prevents him from being by the side of his daughter Susana, who is suffering from advanced breast cancer. These situations not only impact families emotionally but also endanger the health and well-being of those affected, who rely on the support of their loved ones.
How has the international community responded to these actions of the Cuban government?
International human rights organizations, such as Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) and Human Rights Watch, have condemned the exile practices of the Cuban regime. These entities demand that the Cuban government respect the human rights of its citizens and allow the return of those who have been forcibly exiled. The international community views these actions as a serious violation of human rights.
Filed under:
