At 11:00 AM this Saturday, at the Santa Ifigenia cemetery in Santiago de Cuba, family and friends bid their final farewell to Abraham, a young inmate who died in the Boniato maximum-security prison under circumstances that have raised serious suspicions.
According to journalist Yosmany Mayeta on Facebook, the authorities provided contradictory versions regarding the cause of death: they first indicated asphyxiation, then a heart attack, and before that, epilepsy seizures.
This chain of disparate explanations has increased the distrust among those close to the situation, who claim that doctors and military personnel are "passing the buck" to avoid giving a clear response.
Testimonies from other inmates, which cannot be independently verified due to the case's secrecy, suggest that Abraham may have been a victim of an assault by military personnel, Mayeta emphasized.
Family members reported that the body showed unusual signs: “It looked like a pig that had been opened up from all sides. It’s the first time I’ve seen this; they usually make a stitch on the front, but this time it was on the back,” one of them expressed, affected by the events.
The autopsy was carried out at the Oncological Hospital, the only facility in the city that performs this procedure, but it has not cleared up the doubts.
Relatives are reporting that they have not been shown the forensic report nor allowed an independent investigation, emphasized Mayeta.
During the funeral, the sentiment among those in attendance was unanimous: sorrow, outrage, and a demand for justice.
"We will not be silent; we want to know the truth about what happened. They changed the reasons three times, which is suspicious," declared one of the attendees when approached by the journalist.
The case of Abraham adds to other deaths in custody in Cuba that remain unexplained, shielded by official silence and the lack of transparency in the investigations.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Death of the Young Cuban Abraham in Prison
What were the circumstances surrounding Abraham's death in prison?
Abraham died in the Boniato maximum-security prison under suspicious circumstances. Authorities provided contradictory accounts regarding the cause of his death: asphyxiation, heart attack, and epileptic seizures. Unverified testimonies suggest that he may have been a victim of an assault by military personnel.
What do Abraham's family members report?
Abraham's family members are voicing concerns over the lack of transparency in the investigation of his death. They point out that they have not been shown the forensic report or allowed an independent investigation, and that the body showed unusual signs, increasing their suspicions about the cause of death.
How does this case affect the Cuban prison system?
The case of Abraham exposes the structural failures of the Cuban prison system. Human rights organizations warn that these kinds of deaths are the result of a pattern of neglect and abandonment in the country’s prisons, where inmates do not receive basic care and are subjected to inhumane conditions.
What other similar cases have occurred in Cuba?
In Cuba, multiple deaths in custody due to inhumane conditions have been reported. Between January and June 2025, around 24 individuals died while in the custody of the Cuban state. Many of these deaths are attributed to the deliberate denial of medical care, reflecting a pattern of abuse and neglect within the prison system.
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