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The political prisoner Loreto Hernández García, president of the Free Yorubas Association of Cuba, turns 55 today while incarcerated at the Guamajal prison in Villa Clara, as reported to Martí Noticias by his brother, former political prisoner Jorge Luis García Pérez, known as Antúnez.
"I want to make known that my brother... is turning 55 years old today, imprisoned for his peaceful participation in the protests that shook Cuba on July 11, 2021," stated Antúnez.
Hernández García was sentenced to seven years in prison for his involvement in the 11J protests in Placetas, Villa Clara. His wife, Donaida Pérez Paseiro, president of the same organization and a Yoruba priestess with nearly thirty years of activism, is also incarcerated in Guamajal with an eight-year sentence for the same events.
Antúnez reported that both are facing serious health issues in Villa Clara prison: Hernández García suffers from uncontrolled diabetes, respiratory problems, pancreatitis, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension, while Pérez Paseiro experiences severe bone pain and extremely high blood pressure.
Their daughter, Rosabel Sánchez, described her father's situation in April: "As he spoke, he was short of breath, becoming increasingly fatigued."
"Despite the serious health problems they are facing... they are still in prison," said Antúnez, who described the sanctions imposed against the couple as unjust.
The opposition figure also reported that both have been victims of systemic abuse since their imprisonment: "They have suffered countless mistreatments, abuses, beatings, denial of their rights... even because of the color of their skin, their political beliefs, and their religious vocation."
Pérez Paseiro had been released in January 2025 as part of a group of 553 individuals benefiting from early release measures, but the Cuban regime revoked her parole on June 11 of that year, citing a failure to comply with obligations. Activists attribute the decision to political motivations, as the activist continued to publicly demand the release of political prisoners.
Amnesty International demanded the release of the Yoruba leaders on multiple occasions and recognized them as prisoners of conscience. "Their unwavering commitment to their beliefs and their fight for a repression-free Cuba has brought suffering to them, their families, and their community, but their spirits remain intact," stated the organization.
In October 2023, the United States called for the release of the two religious detainees in Cuba: Brian Nichols, then Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, noted that Hernández García is imprisoned “not only for being a dissident but also for expressing religious beliefs.”
Antúnez took advantage of his brother's birthday to extend his message: "Let this denunciation serve to extend to all political prisoners who have to spend important dates in prison, such as birthdays, Christmas... all celebrations of a human being."
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