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The Cuban political prisoner Mayelín Rodríguez Prado, accused of broadcasting the protests from August 2022 in Nuevitas on her social media, was brutally beaten in the Camagüey Provincial Women's Prison.
In prison, where she is serving a 15-year sentence, the regime's repressors attacked her, according to reported this Friday by activist Lizandra Villamen.
They beat her and dragged her away to the cell. She was asking for a different cell, and they were ignoring her," said Villamen in an audio shared by the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights.
The Legal Information Center Cubalex reminded that the political prisoner has previously reported the degrading and cruel conditions faced by inmates at the Women's Provincial Prison of Camagüey, known as "Granja 5".
Her own testimony has evidenced that detained women live in conditions of extreme deprivation, without access to drinking water, with insufficient food, and lacking medical care and essential medications.
Despite the critical situation, the prison chief made the decision to prohibit the entry of food during the New Year, worsening the crisis.
At the beginning of this year, Cubalex states that its 15-year sentence was upheld by the authorities, first verbally through a State Security officer and then through the delivery of the corresponding official documentation.
"This process has been characterized by the lack of legal guarantees, as her lawyer has shown no interest in filing additional appeals, leaving her in a state of defenselessness and legal vulnerability," argues the organization.
The young woman has been subjected to direct threats; they have intimidated her with the prospect of being sent to a punishment cell due to her protest against the ratification of the sentence, highlighting the serious violations of her fundamental rights.
Mayelín had recorded the beatings suffered by two girls in Nuevitas at the hands of the police who suppressed the massive protests in that municipality at the end of August 2022.
Known on social media as “La Chamaca,” Rodríguez Prado, 24, and mother of a young girl, was arrested just a few hours after the live broadcast from her social media accounts.
Frequently asked questions about the situation of political prisoners in Cuba
Who is Mayelín Rodríguez Prado and why was she incarcerated?
Mayelín Rodríguez Prado is a Cuban political prisoner who was incarcerated for live-streaming anti-government protests in Nuevitas, Camagüey, in August 2022. She was charged with "public disorder," "continued enemy propaganda," and "sedition," resulting in a 15-year prison sentence. Her case has been highlighted as an example of the repression exercised by the Cuban regime against those who document and disseminate information about protests on the island.
What complaints have been made about the conditions in the Camagüey prison?
The reports regarding the Camagüey prison, known as "Granja 5", include extremely precarious conditions, such as lack of access to drinking water, insufficient food, and absence of medical care and essential medications. These inhumane conditions have been reported by various human rights organizations and activists, who have also pointed out that the female inmates face degrading and cruel treatment.
How has the international community reacted to the situation of Mayelín Rodríguez Prado?
Human rights organizations such as Cubalex and Justicia 11J have demanded the immediate release of Mayelín Rodríguez Prado, describing her as a political prisoner and a prisoner of conscience. Furthermore, the United States government has condemned her arrest and called for her release. These actions reflect an international concern regarding repression and the lack of freedoms in Cuba.
What impact does the repression of the Cuban regime have on political prisoners and their families?
The repression of the Cuban regime not only affects political prisoners but also their families, who face intimidation, threats, and isolation. The inhumane conditions in prisons, along with the lack of legal guarantees, exacerbate the vulnerability of the prisoners and their loved ones. These actions aim to demoralize and silence those who oppose the regime, having a profound emotional and psychological impact on the affected families.
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