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In State custody: 13-year-old daughter of 9/11 protester in Cuba at risk

"Nathalie has suffered bullying, robberies and severe punishments. Her mental health is alarming. She has suffered panic attacks and has tried to take her own life," Cubalex denounced.

Nathalie Álvarez López © X / Cubalex
Nathalie Álvarez López Photo © X / Cubalex

The non-governmental organization (NGO)Cubalex denounced the situation of risk and lack of protection in which the daughter of a political prisoner is found, imprisoned for her participation inthe historic 11J protests in Cuba.

Is aboutNathalie Álvarez López, the 13-year-old daughter of the political prisonerGloria María López Valle, who is in the custody of the Department of Minors of theNational Revolutionary Police (PNR) and theState Security.

Nathalie's brother,Christian González López, is also serving a prison sentence for his participation in the protests of July 11, 2021.

“In the Children's Home without Filial Protection and the Behavior School where she was taken, Nathalie has suffered bullying, robberies and severe punishments. His mental health is alarming. “He has suffered panic attacks and has tried to take his own life,” the Cuban NGO denounced on its social networks.

According to the organizations' recordsJustice 11J and Cubalex, Gloria María López Valle is serving a 5-year prison sentence (the prosecution requested 8 years) in the Guatao women's prison.

She was arrested on July 11, 2021 during the demonstrations that occurred in the Popular Council of Vegas, Nueva Paz municipality (where she is from), in the province of Mayabeque. He was charged with public disorder and contempt.

López Valle was born on November 30, 1973 and will turn 50 at the end of next month. He was sentenced through an “ordinary prosecution” procedure held on March 4 of last year.

His brother, Christian González López, was also arrested on June 11 and sentenced to 8 years in prison, which he is serving in the Güira de Melena prison. He was also sentenced through an “ordinary prosecution” procedure held on the same day as his mother.

They asked González López for a joint sanction of 12 years for the crimes of public disorder, sabotage and two of contempt, in addition to the prohibition of entering public places in the province for 5 years.

He was also sentenced for “civil liability” to repair the damage caused to the Commerce and Gastronomy Base Business Unit of the municipality of Nueva Paz, with the payment of 35,894 CUP.

Born on March 5, 1994, the young man is 29 years old. If his sentence is exhausted, González López will be released from prison with 35 years.

With the two adult members of her family imprisoned, Nathalie was placed in the custody of the Cuban state and interned in the Children's House without Filial Protection and the Conduct School.

According to himreport of Cubalex, in this institution, the minor "has suffered bullying, robberies and severe punishments." The organization reports that “his mental health is alarming” and that “he has suffered panic attacks and has tried to take his own life.”

According to this NGO, the minor “is a living testimony of the violations of children's rights in Cuba, involved in the murky political and social scenario of the country.”

Under the custody of the Department of Minors of the PNR and State Security, Cubalex denounces that these “institutions have not respected their best interests and have extremely modified their usual living conditions.”

“Álvarez López's educational experience at the School of Conduct contradicts the principles of inclusive education. Instead of being a haven of learning, school has accentuated their stress and anxiety. “He has also suffered discrimination due to his family's political beliefs, and has faced inappropriate comments regarding his puberty,” the NGO noted.

Likewise, he denounced “the Cuban regime's reluctance to release his mother,” which “intensifies his anguish.” For this reason, Nathalie “has suffered panic attacks and has tried to take her own life”

Additionally, “the girl has faced invasions of her privacy, abuse, neglect and mistreatment in the place where she should feel safe.” Cubalex warns that Nathalie's mental health status is alarming

"Despite receiving psychiatric help, his emotional well-being hangs by a thread as a result of the traumatic experiences that have damaged his integral development... situations magnified by the painful separation from his family," he added.

His mother, Gloria María López Valle, was among thegroup of Cuban political prisoners who signed two letters in blood in which they demanded their immediate freedom from the government and that the requests made by other states and personalities of the world be fulfilled.

More than 100 women remain imprisoned in Cuba for political reasonsCubalex denounced at the beginning of March. The NGO prepared a list with the names of political prisoners and reported that at least 114 Cuban women are separated from their families for dissent.

Of the total number of women prisoners of conscience in Cuba, 58 are serving sentences for peacefully demonstrating during the social outbreak of July 11, 2021.

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Ivan Leon

Graduate in journalism. Master in Diplomacy and RR.II. by the Diplomatic School of Madrid. Master in RR.II. and European Integration by the UAB.


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