Cuban civil society demands release of journalist José Luis Tan Estrada

Activists and free professionalsCuban civil society They launched a campaign to collect signatures to demand the release ofJosé Luis Tan Estrada, the young independent journalist whoState Security kept imprisoned in his infamous headquarters, known as Villa Marista.

The initiative used the platformChange.org to publicize the continued situation of harassment and threats suffered by the journalist, exacerbated in recent times (as can be seen in this chronology prepared by the independent mediaCubaNet), and which has led to the arbitrary detention of Tan Estrada at the hands of the State Security repressors of the Cuban regime.

Addressed to the Cuban government, the civil society petition demands the support of “the international community and fellow journalists” to demand “the Cuban authorities for the immediate and unconditional release of the independent journalist,”detained in Villa Marista since last April 26.

With no charges brought against him, the young man is held incommunicado in the cells of the sinister detention center. Alert and aware of so many illegal detentions committed by State Security, Cuban civil society launches a petition to the international community so that the repressors immediately release Tan Estrada.

“We know [that his detention] is part of the strategy of harassment and political persecution to which the young journalist from Camagüey has been subjected since before his expulsion as a professor from the University of Camagüey,” stated the letter that accompanies the petition.

Among the highlighted facts, the text refers to the most recent summons for “interviews”, with which State Security masks its interrogations and intimidating meetings. In addition, he mentioned the fine of 3,000 pesos for violating Decree Law 370 “that the totalitarian regime uses to silence activists, journalists and citizens in general.”

“His alleged crime was shown to him in a folder full of social media posts that included 'likes to memes, comments, likes to other posts, shared memes, even some from last year,'” the document stated.

The persecution against the young journalist also extends to his work as a humanitarian actor, a facet “that has also been criminalized as stated in the complaint for his arrest on February 7 while he was on his way to deliver medicines and donations to girls and boys at the hospital. pediatrician in your province.” These donations made by Cuban civil society were confiscated.

“The arbitrary detention and constant intimidation that José Luis faces are a direct attack on the fundamental principles of free journalism,” denounced the letter, while reflecting data from Reporters Without Borders, a non-governmental organization that places Cuba in 172nd place. among 180 countries in terms of press freedom (2023).

In addition to this initiative, Cuban civil society has used social networks to amplify the dangerous situation in which Tan Estrada finds himself. For this they have created the #FreeTan tag that accompanies thousands ofpublications who demand the immediate release of the journalist.