The photographer and creator of Christian content Iván Daniel Calás Navarro published a short video on Facebook in which he directly responds to those who threaten him with imprisonment from anonymous profiles on social media.
In a straightforward tone, the young man denounced the use of fake accounts to intimidate him and asserted that he has no intention of remaining silent.
"To those who threaten us with prison through social media with fake profiles, I say, God bless you and may God have mercy on you," he begins by saying in the video.
Later, he contrasts his open stance with that of those who challenge him from anonymity: "I put my face, my voice out there; people can know what I think, what I say. You use names and photos that aren’t yours, following orders that you know are wrong."
In the video, he questions the fact that those who attack him do not publicly stand by their arguments. "Cowards, that's what you are, cowards, because if your argument is so good, if what you say is true, if you're not ashamed, why don't you show your face?" he asserts.
He also argues that, although he may be concerned about the consequences of his words, he remains at peace with his conscience. "My conscience is clear; yours is not."
Calás also responds to the explicit threats of imprisonment and violence with a religious reference: "You threaten me with a fire that burns for a while and then goes out, but you ignore the fire of the coming judgment."
And he concludes with a provocative phrase: "Why do you take so long? Bring whatever you want. The ideas that need to be defended with violence are dead ideas, just like your idols."
The young man's message comes in a context where social media has become one of the few spaces for Cuban citizens to openly express criticism about the state of the country.
However, that digital terrain is also marked by surveillance, harassment, and intimidation.
The use of anonymous profiles to discredit, threaten, or warn about potential criminal consequences is a practice that various activists and communicators have denounced in recent years.
The video by Iván Daniel fits into this dynamic: a citizen who chooses to speak out by name against a system that, as opponents and critics report, does not hesitate to use pressure tactics to deter any public questioning.
In an environment where dissent can lead to summons, interrogations, or loss of job opportunities, media exposure becomes a real risk.
A few weeks ago, Calás had already responded to those accusing him of "looking for a political case" due to his posts about the Cuban reality.
On that occasion, he rejected that his motivation was political and defended his testimony as a believer. "We don't want a political case. We have much to lose and we know it," he wrote at that time.
He also stated that he does not need to wait for institutional statements to express what is happening in the country and concluded with a phrase that was widely shared: "The fear is over".
Iván Daniel Calás Navarro defines himself as an evangelical Baptist Christian and has been publishing content on faith and society through his channel "Voz De Verdad" since 2017.
In recent months, he gained prominence through a series of videos filmed on the streets of Havana where he asked passersby, "Are you happy?". The responses, marked by references to the economic crisis, blackouts, inflation, and shortages, reflected the disillusionment of many citizens.
This is not the first time he/she has faced pressure.
In September 2023, he was summoned by State Security and, as he reported after an interrogation, was warned that he could "go to prison" if he said anything against the authorities. After that episode, he expressed that he feared for his life, although he stated that his trust was in God.
The young man has also sparked debate within religious communities, where some believe that the church should stay out of public affairs, while others argue that preaching the Gospel and denouncing social issues are not mutually exclusive actions.
Her publications have received both support and criticism.
The new video once again highlights the personal cost that may come with expressing critical opinions in Cuba. When a content creator has to respond publicly to threats of imprisonment issued from anonymity, the atmosphere of tension surrounding the exercise of freedom of expression becomes evident.
In that context, the decision to speak up and take responsibility becomes, for some young people like Iván Daniel, a form of resistance against intimidation.
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