Following its repeated threats, the Cuban regime revoked the conditional release of the opposition figure Donaida Pérez Paseiro this Wednesday, who will have to return to prison to serve the remainder of her sentence.
According to a post by the Provincial People's Court of Villa Clara on Facebook, the revocation is due to "non-compliance with the obligations" associated with the parole system, including their absence from a court summons and the alleged failure in the "work sphere".
The judicial authority cites articles 149, 150, and 172 of the Penal Execution Law, as well as article 128.1 of Decree Law 74 of 2023, as the legal basis for its decision. The ruling orders that Donaida Pérez serve the remainder of her sentence in a correctional facility.
Pérez Paseiro, a member of the Association of Free Yorubas in Cuba, had been released in January 2024 as part of a group of 553 sentenced individuals - most of them common prisoners - who were granted early release measures. The activist was convicted for the alleged offenses of contempt, assault, and public disorder.
Reactions: denunciation of political repression
The journalist and academic José Raúl Gallego reacted immediately to the news, describing the decision as "another act of arbitrariness by the Cuban regime." He noted that Donaida Pérez is the third opposition figure to be imprisoned again after being released on parole, alongside José Daniel Ferrer García and Félix Navarro Rodríguez.
"Since her release from prison, Donaida has only exercised her right to express herself freely and to demand the release of her husband, the political prisoner Loreto Hernández, who is also in serious health condition," Gallego stated.
He also questioned the recent agreements that allowed for some releases, describing them as "poor, limited, and made without the knowledge of civil society, political prisoners, and their families."
Meeting with U.S. diplomats
Donaida Pérez Paseiro had held a meeting with Mike Hammer, the United States Ambassador in Cuba, in a symbolic gesture of openness towards dialogue with opposition members.
His return to prison raises alarms about the lack of real guarantees for freedom of expression and association on the island, especially when it involves activists highlighted in diplomatic spaces.
The revocation occurs in a context of increasing criminalization of activism, selective repression, and surveillance on those who, from within the island, dare to publicly challenge the authorities.
Donaida Pérez Paseiro, a story of struggle
Born in 1971, Donaida Pérez Paseiro is recognized for her role as president of the Association of Free Yorubas of Cuba, an independent community of santería on the island.
On July 11, 2021, Pérez Paseiro participated in the anti-government protests on the island.
On July 16, 2021, she voluntarily surrendered to the authorities in compliance with a warrant for her arrest. Subsequently, she was charged with public disorder, contempt, and assault against a public official.
In February 2022, the Santa Clara People's Municipal Tribunal sentenced her to eight years in prison. Since then, she has been incarcerated in the Guamajal women's prison in Santa Clara, Villa Clara province.
The situation of Pérez Paseiro raised international concern, especially regarding his health, as he suffers from hypertension and diabetes, conditions that worsened during his imprisonment.
In December 2021, she was transferred to a hospital after experiencing vomiting with blood and abdominal pain. In July 2022, she developed symptoms of COVID-19 and was isolated in prison.
Organizations like Amnesty International have recognized Pérez Paseiro as a prisoner of conscience and have been demanding his immediate and unconditional release, arguing that his detention is solely due to his peaceful participation in protests and his religious leadership.
Her husband, Loreto Hernández García, who serves as the vice president of the same religious association, was also arrested and sentenced to seven years in prison for his involvement in the protests of 11J.
The detention and conviction of Pérez Paseiro and her husband have been reported as violations of religious freedom and freedom of expression in Cuba, leading to international calls for their release.
Frequently asked questions about the revocation of parole for Donaida Pérez Paseiro
Why did the Cuban regime revoke the parole of Donaida Pérez Paseiro?
The Cuban regime revoked the parole of Donaida Pérez Paseiro for alleged violations of the obligations associated with her parole, such as failing to appear at a court summons and supposed breaches in the workplace. However, critics claim that this decision is politically motivated and aims to silence opponents of the regime.
What is the political context behind the revocation of Donaida Pérez's parole?
The political context behind the revocation of Donaida Pérez Paseiro's parole is marked by a rise in repression and criminalization of activism in Cuba. The decision reflects a similar pattern of revocation applied to other opponents such as José Daniel Ferrer and Félix Navarro, suggesting the use of the judicial system as a tool of political control to silence those who dissent from the power.
What reactions has the revocation of Donaida Pérez's parole generated?
The revocation of Donaida Pérez's parole has sparked critical reactions, particularly from figures such as journalist José Raúl Gallego, who described it as “another arbitrariness of the Cuban regime.” It is denounced that the imprisonment is a response to political repression and the lack of guarantees for freedom of expression and association in Cuba.
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