The Granma newspaper, the official organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), seems to have inadvertently acknowledged the existence of political prisoners on the island, something the regime has categorically denied for decades.
In a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the newspaper criticized the American diplomat Mike Hammer, stating that he "sent a voice message of thanks to a political prisoner for the cause of July 11, reaffirming his commitment to the freedom of political prisoners in Cuba."
The reaction from internet users was immediate. Several users pointed out what many consider a revealing lapse, as the Cuban government publicly insists that there are no political prisoners in the country, but rather "individuals punished for common crimes."
The regime immediately deleted the post and replaced it with another one stating that "those detained for the vandalistic acts on July 11 were properly tried for committing crimes against public order."
Although this reaction was anticipated, the original publication left several messages pointing to the regime for violating the rights of Cubans.
"Look how nice, you just acknowledged that you have political prisoners in the prison island," wrote a user, while others claimed, "It was about time you admitted the obvious."
The phrase, which contained the expression "political prisoners in Cuba," has been interpreted as an implicit confirmation of what activists, international NGOs, and democratic governments have denounced for years: the existence of hundreds of people imprisoned for political reasons, especially following the massive protests on July 11, 2021.
The Cuban government has systematically denied having prisoners for reasons of conscience or political reasons, labeling those arrested on July 11 as "vandals," "mercenaries," or "common criminals."
The error occurs during a verbal escalation between Cuban officials and the Head of Mission at the Embassy of Washington in Havana, Mike Hammer, who recently denounced the repression on the island, stated that the revolution had failed and called for the immediate release of the prisoners from 11J.
Various organizations such as Prisoners Defenders, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have documented political prisoners in Cuba with their names, ages, and sentences.
Currently, it is estimated that there are over 1,000 prisoners for reasons related to peaceful protest, freedom of expression, and dissent.
Frequently Asked Questions about Political Prisoners in Cuba
Are there political prisoners in Cuba, according to the Cuban government?
Officially, the Cuban government denies the existence of political prisoners on the island. However, a recent slip by the newspaper Granma, the official organ of the Communist Party, seemed to acknowledge their existence by referring to "political prisoners" in a tweet, which caused a stir and sparked debate on social media.
How many political prisoners are estimated to be in Cuba currently?
It is estimated that there are over 1,000 political prisoners in Cuba. This figure includes individuals imprisoned for reasons related to peaceful protest, freedom of expression, and dissent, especially following the massive protests on July 11, 2021.
What role has the international community played regarding political prisoners in Cuba?
The international community has maintained pressure on the Cuban regime to release political prisoners. Organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented the cases and demanded the release of all those detained for political reasons, while countries like the United States have called for the immediate release of these prisoners from the Cuban regime.
What impact did Granma's lapse have on the perception of political prisoners in Cuba?
The lapse by Granma was interpreted as an involuntary admission of the existence of political prisoners in Cuba. This has sparked a strong debate and has been used by activists and opponents to reinforce their claims regarding political repression on the island. Furthermore, it has called into question the official narrative of the Cuban regime.
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