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From the Mar Verde prison in Santiago de Cuba, the opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer, head of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), revealed that he agreed to go into exile, a decision he describes as painful, made under extreme pressure from the regime, and motivated by the need to protect his family. In a handwritten letter dated September 10, 2025, Ferrer denounces a series of systematic abuses and reaffirms his commitment to the struggle for the freedom of Cuba.
"For years, I have been subjected to brutal beatings, torture, humiliation, death threats, and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment," begins the letter, handwritten and published by his family on social media. "My family has also been the target of the most ruthless persecution," he adds, attributing this violence to the regime's attempts to force him into exile or to give up his activism.
A decision marked by pain and frustration
Ferrer explains that he decided to leave the country before the assault on his home on April 29, when he was returned to prison after the revocation of his parole. “Even before the last assault on my home on April 29 of this year, I had decided to go into exile to protect my wife and children,” he states. “I made this decision for the safety of my family and due to the frustration I felt upon confirming the disunity, sectarianism, and ineffectiveness of the opposition both inside and outside of Cuba after my release from prison.”
It also points out that State Security has demanded he use exile to discredit the struggle for freedom, including manipulating his image. “They have been making videos and recordings with the intention of publishing material that casts doubt on our commitment to the struggle (...), videos and audios to portray us as supposed agents of the tyranny.”
They would have even pressured him to marry on a symbolic date for the Castro regime: “They exerted strong pressure with the intention of having me marry my beloved partner, Nelva Ismarays Ortega, on the birthday of the deceased dictator.”
Moreover, according to the complaint, they wanted me to ask the United States and the Catholic Church to resume negotiations with the regime. Ferrer is adamant: “I want to make it very clear that if my life and that of my family depends on asking for such things, I would prefer my death in this Nazi-style concentration camp (...). I am ready to die, but not to live without honor, without dignity.”
Inhumane conditions and cruel treatment
The opposition leader details that he lives in extreme conditions: “I survive among common criminals capable of any crime and under the orders of the prison chief, Vladimir Pineda, who brutally hates me, and the political police.” He claims that he suffers “theft of my food and hygiene products, ordered by the regime's henchmen,” and that the threats against his wife and children “have been greater than at any previous time in prison.”
These statements align with recent allegations made by his sister Ana Belkis Ferrer, who claimed that in prison, they have stolen the bags with food and hygiene products, they keep him sick without medical attention, and they force him to share a cell with violent prisoners and infiltrating agents. “Only the immense love I feel for my family and my commitment to non-violent struggle have made it possible for me to remain calm, to gather patience, and not to defend myself (...) with the methods that any human being would have employed in such extreme circumstances,” Ferrer wrote.
Exile, not as an escape but as a strategy
Although he laments the deterioration of the opposition and the complicity of the free world, Ferrer insists that his departure will not be a surrender: “I will leave Cuba only with my dignity and honor held high, and not for a long time.” He sends a symbolic and patriotic warning: “I was going to leave like Maceo and many mambises did, to return at the right moment as Martí, Gómez, and Maceo returned. But I will not leave under the pressures and dirty tricks of the henchmen of the tyranny.”
Despite claiming that he has lost faith in many opponents, he assures that “I still have a lot of faith in the good fighters that remain.” He concludes with an unwavering promise: “I will continue to fight until achieving victory or dying in the attempt to see Cuba free.”
He was released in January 2025 under a parole regime that he himself refused to sign, considering it illegitimate and incompatible with his commitment to the struggle for the freedom of Cuba. “I do not accept those conditions, sentence me to 30 more years (...). They leave me in this concentration camp,” Ferrer declared at that time, reaffirming that he would not accept any measures that would imply capitulation or legitimizing the regime. “I have sacrificed my life and my family, whom I love deeply, to fight for my people. I will never abandon the struggle,” he assured after his release, before being imprisoned again three months later.
On April 29, 2025, the Supreme Popular Court revoked his release and sent him back to prison. The return was justified by alleged failures to appear before the court, although various observers have denounced the process as politically motivated.
The case of Ferrer has generated increasing international concern. The U.S. State Department demanded his immediate release, while Amnesty International has recognized him as a prisoner of conscience subjected to torture.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Situation of José Daniel Ferrer and Repression in Cuba
Why has José Daniel Ferrer decided to go into exile?
José Daniel Ferrer decided to go into exile to protect his family from the extreme pressures and violence of the Cuban regime. In a letter from prison, he explained that his departure is a strategy driven by the desire to ensure the safety of his wife and children, in light of the brutal repression he has endured, including beatings and death threats.
What kind of abuses has José Daniel Ferrer reported from prison?
José Daniel Ferrer has reported a series of abuses during his incarceration at Mar Verde prison, including beatings, torture, humiliation, and threats. He has also pointed out that he suffers from theft of food and hygiene products, and that the conditions of detention are inhumane, with no access to adequate medical care.
What is the stance of the international community regarding the case of José Daniel Ferrer?
The international community, including the United States and human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, has expressed concern over the case of José Daniel Ferrer. The U.S. State Department has demanded his immediate release and condemned the inhumane conditions of his imprisonment. Amnesty International has identified him as a prisoner of conscience who is subjected to torture.
How has repression impacted the humanitarian work of José Daniel Ferrer?
The humanitarian work of José Daniel Ferrer has been severely impacted by the repression of the Cuban regime. His headquarters of UNPACU has been raided and its resources confiscated, preventing the distribution of food and medicine to those in need in Santiago de Cuba. This repression aims to silence his solidarity and criticism of the regime.
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