The activist Alberto Turis Betancourt, known on social media as "Generosidad Cristiano Jerusalén," has been missing since Wednesday, after being detained by State Security while filming the police operation near the Colón Cemetery, where a mass was being held in memory of the boy Geobel Damir Ortiz.
The religious ceremony, organized by family, friends, and activists, took place at the chapel of the Colón Cemetery and brought together a group of people who, despite the regime's threats, united in prayer to bid farewell to the minor, who recently died in Miami after years of unsuccessful treatments in Cuba and a severe sepsis he contracted on the island.
However, the farewell event was not without repression and police surveillance. Activist Yamilka Lafita, known as Lara Crofs, reported that she was detained in her home by State Security agents and that they prevented her from attending the mass. Through a live broadcast, she showed how her block was closed off and monitored by patrols to prevent her from leaving.
Forced disappearance and public denunciation
Hours later, Lafita alerted on about the disappearance of Alberto Turis, who allegedly was detained for live streaming the police presence that was preventing citizens from accessing the cemetery.
According to the activist, Turis was unable to enter the cemetery because he was asked for his identity card, a document that, he claims, was confiscated by the police during previous detentions.
"What is your crime? Being in a public place without an ID? That isn’t punished with disappearance; it’s fined... and if necessary, I'll pay it!" Lafita expressed in a strong message directed at the regime.
“Let him go already, don’t be so abusive!” she insisted.
Lafita recounted that he met Turis during the campaign to save the girl Amanda in 2024. Despite the risks, he took to the streets with a cardboard box to raise funds, an act that resulted in surveillance and multiple interrogations.
That time, Turis experienced a similar situation when he was apprehended after going out to raise funds on the streets of Havana, with the goal of supporting the girl Amanda Lemus Ortiz, who was finally able to travel with her parents to Spain for treatment of biliary atresia after waiting for more than a year for a liver transplant.
Solidarity inside and outside of Cuba
Dr. Miguel Ángel Ruano Sánchez, who resides in the United States, also joined the denunciations, having been a victim of attacks and defamatory campaigns orchestrated by the regime.
“Alberto Turis Betancourt, my friend, brother, and comrade in struggle, is still missing, apparently arbitrarily detained by the political police. He has committed no crime. Free him now!”, demanded on his social media.
Criminalization of solidarity
The detention of Turis and the restrictions imposed on activists like Lafita once again reveal the extent of harassment and repression faced by those who promote acts of remembrance, solidarity, or peaceful protest in Cuba.
Requiring an identity card to enter a cemetery and deploying an operation to prevent a children's mass demonstrates the regime's fear even of symbolic gestures, especially when they arise outside of its control.
The family and activists are demanding their immediate release, urging the public to share the case to put pressure for their reappearance and to publicly denounce the repression.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Disappearance of the Cuban Activist Alberto Turis Betancourt
Why was Alberto Turis Betancourt arrested?
Alberto Turis Betancourt was arrested by State Security while filming a police operation near the Colón Cemetery, during a mass in memory of the child Damir Ortiz. The arrest appears to be related to his involvement in acts of solidarity and protest, which are deemed subversive by the Cuban regime.
What happened during the mass for the child Damir Ortiz in Havana?
The mass, which took place at the Colón Cemetery, was organized by family members and activists to bid farewell to the child Damir Ortiz, who passed away in Miami. The farewell event was marked by repression and police surveillance, preventing many attendees, including several activists, from reaching the site. The Cuban regime deployed an operation to prevent massive attendance at the event.
What actions are being taken to find Alberto Turis Betancourt?
Family members and activists are demanding his immediate release and asking the public to share the case to increase public pressure. His disappearance has been reported on social media, and calls for solidarity have been made both inside and outside of Cuba to raise awareness of the case and denounce the repression.
What is the context of repression against activists in Cuba?
The Cuban regime maintains a tight grip on the activities of activists, criminalizing acts of solidarity and remembrance that they consider challenging. The detention of Turis and the restrictions on other activists reflect the harassment and systematic repression faced by those who oppose the regime or promote peaceful protest against its policies.
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