“Enough of this crime against me, murderers! Why is Sandro Castro not in prison but my son is?”. The cry of Haydée Galbán Casals, a 76-year-old Cuban mother, resonates with rage and pain in a video circulating on social media, denouncing what she sees as a systematic injustice against her family by the Cuban regime.
Haydee demands freedom for her son, Leonardo Cantillo Galbán, who was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison by Cuban authorities for an alleged crime of pimping. His family asserts that this is a fabricated case, the third in more than two decades of what they describe as an unrelenting persecution.
“They have destroyed my life. I have two children in Spain whom I haven't seen for 14 years, a grandson in the United States, and the only one I have here is imprisoned... Thieves, murderers!”, Haydée denounces.
Ricardo Galbán, brother of the detained Cuban activist in exile, also raised his voice. In a recently published video, he recalled that he was exiled nearly 15 years ago and that, since then, his family has been targeted by the State Security in Baracoa.
“Around three cases have been fabricated against my brother Leonardo at different times. He has served over 27 years in prison. He was recently on parole, working in a carpentry shop, fulfilling the requirements… and they went to arrest him again,” Ricardo reported.
According to his testimony, this new arrest would be to revoke his parole, with no clear explanation, under a pretext that the family believes is part of the repressive pattern against those who do not align with the government.
Ricardo accuses the State Security of Baracoa of being intolerant towards his family for becoming a symbol of resistance and dignity within a community that is increasingly losing its fear.
“What they can't forgive is that my house has become a space for gathering, for messages of freedom, for people who will not be silenced,” she pointed out.
The story of this family resonates deeply in a nation fractured by repression, family separation, and forced exile. On social media, expressions of solidarity are growing along with calls to raise awareness about Leonardo's case, one among the hundreds of political prisoners who, according to independent organizations, currently fill Cuba's jails.
Frequently Asked Questions about Repression and Political Prisoners in Cuba
Who is Leonardo Cantillo Galbán and why is he in prison?
Leonardo Cantillo Galbán is a Cuban political prisoner who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for an alleged charge of pimping. His family claims that the accusations are fabricated and that this is a political persecution by the Cuban regime due to his political dissent.
Why does Leonardo Cantillo Galbán's mother denounce the Cuban regime?
The mother of Leonardo, Haydée Galbán Casals, denounces the Cuban regime for what she considers a systematic injustice against her family. She claims that her son is a victim of fabricated charges as part of a repressive pattern against those who do not align with the government, and demands his immediate release.
How has the Cuban regime affected Leonardo Cantillo Galbán's family?
Leonardo's family has been targeted by State Security in Baracoa. Leonardo has served over 27 years in prison and has faced several criminal charges deemed fabricated. His brother, Ricardo Galbán, was exiled nearly 15 years ago and reports that their home has become a symbol of resistance, which has intensified the regime's persecution against them.
What is the current context of repression in Cuba according to this news?
The current context in Cuba is characterized by intense repression against those opposing the regime. The detention of political prisoners and the use of fabricated charges are strategies employed by the government to silence dissent. Affected families face separation and forced exile, while activists report a systematic pattern of human rights violations.
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