The journalist Camila Acosta, from the independent outlet CubaNet, was intercepted on the afternoon of this Friday by two women wearing masks and dressed in plain clothes who asked her for her identity card while she was live-streaming the Good Friday procession in Havana.
In the video, it can be heard that the two women, who , demanded that Acosta hand over his official identification.
“We are from MININT”, one of the two suppressors was heard saying during the tense dialogue, while the other insisted that she could not record them.
After reviewing the document, both of them left, allowing the journalist to continue on her way.
The incident, which took place at the corner of 11 and E in El Vedado, had a clearly intimidating purpose towards the independent communicator, who has been a victim of systematic harassment in recent years, as well as subject to defamation in state media.
Camila Acosta has been subjected to interrogations multiple times, as well as police cordons that have prevented her from leaving her home for several days.
In April 2024, she was detained in Cárdenas, Matanzas, while on her way to visit the families of several political prisoners. On that occasion, she was held at a PNR station for an hour and then returned home in Havana by a convoy of patrol cars.
Holy Week in the Eye of the Hurricane in Cuba
Despite the climate of religious censorship that persists in Cuba, some Catholic communities were able to hold processions through the streets of their localities this Good Friday.
These events, which had official authorization, contrast with other expressions of faith that were prohibited throughout the same week in various cities across the country, once again highlighting the complex and contentious relationship between the Cuban regime and the Catholic Church.
One of the authorized processions was the one covered by Camila Acosta, which took place at the Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, located on the central Línea street in El Vedado.
Frequently Asked Questions about Repression in Cuba and Holy Week in Havana
What happened during Camila Acosta's live broadcast in Holy Week in Havana?
During the live broadcast of the Holy Week procession in Havana, journalist Camila Acosta was intercepted by plainclothes MININT agents. These individuals demanded that she hand over her identity card without properly identifying themselves, in a clearly intimidating act. After reviewing her documents, they let her continue on her way.
Why does the Cuban government allow some processions and prohibit others during Holy Week?
The Cuban government allows certain religious processions while prohibiting others, reflecting a strict and selective control over public expressions of faith. Although some religious activities receive official authorization, such as the procession at the Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in El Vedado, others are banned without clear justification, such as the Solemn Stations of the Cross in Havana. This duality highlights the conflicted relationship between the regime and the Catholic Church in Cuba.
Who is Camila Acosta and what is her situation as a journalist in Cuba?
Camila Acosta is a Cuban independent journalist who has faced harassment and systematic repression from the Cuban government. She has been detained multiple times, subjected to interrogations, and faced movement restrictions. Her journalistic work, focused on highlighting repression and injustices in Cuba, has made her a frequent target of state security forces.
How does the repression of the Cuban regime manifest during religious events?
The Cuban regime uses restrictions and control to limit public expressions of religion. During events such as Holy Week, the government imposes bans on certain processions and religious activities, while allowing others under strict supervision. This approach reflects its distrust of religious manifestations and its attempt to maintain social and political control.
Filed under:
