The Complaint Center of the Foundation for Pan American Democracy (FDP) reported on Saturday the enforced disappearance of the Cuban political prisoner Mario Alberto Hernández Leyva, who has been missing for more than 48 hours without any information regarding his whereabouts.
Hernández Leyva is part of the Opposition Movement for a New Republic (MONR), a group opposed to the Cuban political system.
The statement mentions that family and friends are searching for Hernández Leyva, who is not at the Vivac detention center, nor at the police unit on Calle 14 in Guanabacoa, nor at the 11th unit of San Miguel del Padrón, where he had previously been held.
Additionally, an anonymous testimony from another political prisoner at prison 1580 claims that he is also not in that prison.
So far, the authorities have not provided any official information about his whereabouts, which has raised alarms over a possible case of enforced disappearance, a practice prohibited by International Law and classified as a crime against humanity.
Cuba Decide and the Foundation for Pan-American Democracy hold the Cuban regime responsible for the physical integrity of the activist and demand immediate information regarding his current situation.
In 2021, CiberCuba reported that Hernández Leyva was in Havana to inquire about the health status of the independent artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, who was then confined to that medical facility.
Frequently asked questions about the disappearance of Mario Alberto Hernández Leyva and the situation of political prisoners in Cuba
What is known about the disappearance of Mario Alberto Hernández Leyva?
Mario Alberto Hernández Leyva, a Cuban political prisoner, has been missing for over 48 hours without any information about his whereabouts. He is a member of the Opposition Movement for a New Republic, and his disappearance has been reported by the Complaint Center of the Foundation for Pan American Democracy. Cuban authorities have not provided any official information, raising concerns about a possible case of enforced disappearance.
What is the context of political prisoners in Cuba?
In Cuba, political prisoners often face inhumane conditions, a lack of adequate medical care, and systematic repression. Recent cases have shown that the Cuban regime uses the prison system as a tool for political punishment, denying transfers and medical attention to detainees. Human rights organizations denounce this situation and demand the immediate release of all political prisoners.
What measures are human rights organizations taking in response to the situation of political prisoners in Cuba?
Organizations like Cubalex and the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights are denouncing human rights violations and demanding international interventions. These organizations aim to pressure the Cuban regime to ensure the physical integrity of political prisoners and are calling for urgent action from international bodies to stop the repression.
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