Pastor Alain Toledano reported that the Cuban regime prevented him from traveling to the island to say a final farewell to a deceased family member.
Toledano, who was forced by the regime to exile himself in mid-2022 along with his wife and two daughters under the threat of immediate imprisonment, recounted in statements to America Tevé the unique way the regime found to warn him not to travel, as he would not be allowed to return.
"I booked a ticket, and the day before, my lawyer in Cuba called me and told me that State Security had contacted him and mentioned that they had seen my name on the passenger list and instructed him to call me and advise me not to travel, because on the same plane I was taking, they were going to send me back," explained journalist Rolando Nápoles.
Alain Toledano recounts that, despite the warning, he decided to travel, but the problem is that at Miami Airport he was prevented from boarding the plane. When he went to check in, he was told that he could not enter Cuba by sea, air, or land.
He also recounts that on another occasion he simply took and accompanied some people to Miami Airport who were traveling to Cuba, and he notes that, interestingly, one of the employees checking tickets and passports already knew that he would not be able to enter the island.
The pastor, who suffered notorious repressive episodes on the island, including the demolition of his church on more than one occasion, clarified that he has no desire to live in Cuba again, but emphasized that his mother, his older daughters, his grandchildren, and many of his loved ones are there.
"Simply because I don't think like them - because I owe them nothing - they prevent me from entering the country to which I belong, where I was born, from where I come, and the most criminal thing of all is that they prevent me from being with my family," he lamented.
The religious leader detailed when his problems with the regime began.
"My problem with them arises because the church is growing, and when society began to hear the message, they got nervous and started the attacks. When they demolished me for the first time, took away our house, and stole all of our belongings, both from the church and my personal ones, it was due to the movement that was happening within the church," he noted.
He recounts that they demanded he close the church, but he did not do it.
“I did not close the church, I continued preaching the Gospel and they attacked me in this way,” he explains.
Pastor Toledano and his family left Cuba in July 2022, after the State Security gave him a 30-day deadline on June 25 of that year to leave or face imprisonment.
Until his exile, Toledano was one of the most critical voices against the regime within the religion on the island.
In 2007 and 2016, they demolished his Emanuel church, which he had founded in 1999 in Santiago de Cuba. To this, several arrests and threats against him and his family were added.
Alain Toledano believes that no government in the world should have the right to prevent a citizen of that country from entering, as long as they are not a criminal or have debts to the nation.
“My only problem with the Cuban regime is that I am not a communist”, he concludes.
Frequently Asked Questions about the case of Pastor Alain Toledano and repression in Cuba
Why couldn't Pastor Alain Toledano travel to Cuba for his family member's funeral?
The Cuban regime prevented Pastor Alain Toledano from traveling to Cuba to attend a family member's funeral, warning him that he would be returned on the same flight he attempted to enter on. This restriction is due to his critical stance towards the regime and his influence as a religious leader on the island.
What has been the history of repression against Alain Toledano in Cuba?
Alain Toledano has been subjected to repressive episodes by the Cuban regime, which included the demolition of his church on several occasions and threats of imprisonment. His conflict with the regime began when his church grew and the religious message started to resonate within society, causing anxiety among Cuban authorities.
What does it mean to be "regulated" in Cuba and how does it affect people who are critical of the regime?
Being "regulated" in Cuba means being prohibited from leaving the country, a measure that is applied arbitrarily to activists, journalists, and religious leaders who are critical of the government. This regulation is a control tactic to prevent dissenting voices from traveling abroad and denouncing the situation on the island.
How does the repression of the Cuban regime affect the families of exiles?
The repression of the Cuban regime deeply impacts the families of exiles, separating them from their loved ones and denying them the chance to reunite during critical moments, such as funerals. For Toledano, the inability to enter Cuba means not being able to be with his mother, adult daughters, and grandchildren, which adds another layer of pain beyond forced exile.
What measures are being taken outside of Cuba to support exiles and critics of the regime?
In exile, many Cubans have received support from communities in countries like the United States, where the historical exile and human rights organizations have provided backing. However, legal cases and complex immigration situations, such as those of some exiles, can be prolonged, making it difficult to regularize their status and achieve family stability.
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