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Cuban artist and political prisoner Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara began a voluntary hunger strike on Monday, December 1, 2025, from prison in Cuba, in protest against his unjust incarceration and the serious human rights situation in the country.
A note published on their , signed by Claudia Genlui and Yanelys Núñez, indicates that Otero Alcántara, founder of the San Isidro Movement, turns 38 this Tuesday, December 2, but has chosen not to receive family visits as part of his protest.
“This will be the fifth consecutive birthday he spends in prison, separated from his family, his life, and his work. Five years during which the Cuban state has taken away his time, projects, affections, and freedom,” the statement notes.
The publication states that more than 1,700 political prisoners remain in Cuban prisons today for demanding rights and freedoms. "Meanwhile, the country is experiencing the worst economic, social, and humanitarian crisis in its recent history," the text adds.
Among the most serious cases is that of political prisoner Yosvany Rosell García Caso, who has been on hunger strike for over 40 days.
Although Otero Alcántara mentioned "fasting," the statement clarifies that in the Cuban prison context, this term is often used to avoid reprisals and may refer to an extreme form of protest.
Fasting involves partially abstaining from food, while a hunger strike is a total abstention from food and liquids, posing a risk to life.
The rapper and also political prisoner Maykel “Osorbo” Castillo sent a letter from prison 5 y Medio, shared by , in which he reaffirms his commitment to freedom.
"I wish no one would ever be forced to choose between life and freedom. I wish we had our country in our hands again," wrote El Funky in the introduction to his friend's words from prison.
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