Donaida Pérez Paseiro, political prisoner of 11J released this Wednesday, reaffirmed that she will continue fighting for the freedom of Cuba.
"Here I am again in the neighborhood with my neighbors, with my family, with the people who truly care about me [...] We continue standing strong in the fight. We keep fighting for the freedom and democracy of my country, because no one is going to silence me," Donaida said in a video circulating on social media.
"No one is going to make me lower my head. So we remain the same...with my big family, with my godchildren, with my neighbors," added the political activist, 53 years old and from Villa Clara.
President of the Association of Free Yorubas of Cuba, Pérez Paseiro was sentenced to eight years in prison for her involvement in the protests of July 11th and was held in the Guamajal Women's Prison.
In subsequent statements to the International channel NTN24 -which broadcasts in several Latin American countries- Pérez Paseiro firmly reiterated his statements and admitted that political prisoners have over the years been "bargaining chips" for the Cuban regime.
The religious leader, who still has her husband, Loreto Hernández García, in prison, hopes that he will also be released.
"We will continue to fight for the freedom of Cuba and are ready to give a statement to anyone who needs it so that the whole world knows about our life in prison and currently outside of it," he concluded.
The activist Jorge Luis García Pérez (Antúnez) specified, in statements shared by ADN Cuba, that the authorities attempted to impose conditions on Donaida's release, but she refused to accept them.
Antúnez stated that, at the time of her release, the judge informed Donaida that after being released, she was not allowed to make live broadcasts.
Donaida's response was that she is not just any demonstrator from the 11J, but a Human Rights activist for almost 30 years, that nobody can buy her silence, and that if they imposed conditions on her, she would return to the cell again.
Born in 1971, Donaida Pérez Paseiro is recognized for her role as president of the Association of Free Yorubas of Cuba, an independent community of Santería on the island.
On July 11, 2021, Pérez Paseiro participated in the anti-government protests in Cuba.
On July 16, 2021, she voluntarily surrendered to the authorities in compliance with an arrest warrant issued against her. She was subsequently charged with public disorder, contempt, and assaulting a public official.
In February 2022, the People's Municipal Court of Santa Clara sentenced her to eight years in prison. Since then, she has been held at the Guamajal women's prison in Santa Clara, Villa Clara province.
The situation of Pérez Paseiro raised international concern, especially regarding his health, as he suffers from hypertension and diabetes, conditions that were exacerbated during his imprisonment.
In December 2021, she was transferred to a hospital after experiencing bloody vomiting and abdominal pain. In July 2022, she developed symptoms of COVID-19 and was isolated in prison.
Organizations such as Amnesty International have recognized Pérez Paseiro as a prisoner of conscience and have been demanding his immediate and unconditional release, arguing that his detention was solely due to his peaceful participation in the protests and his religious leadership.
Her husband, Loreto Hernández García, who serves as vice president of the same religious association, was also arrested and sentenced to seven years in prison for his involvement in the protests of July 11th.
The detention and sentencing of Pérez Paseiro and her husband have been denounced as violations of religious freedom and freedom of expression in Cuba, prompting international calls for their release.
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