The Western Baptist Convention Association of Cuba publicly expressed its support for Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente, known as Anna Bensi, and her mother, Caridad Silvente, just a few hours before their trial scheduled for this Thursday in Cuba.
In a statement published this Tuesday on Facebook, the Board of Directors of the religious organization expressed its solidarity with the mother and daughter, both connected to a church affiliated with the Convention, and demanded respect for the due process, freedom of expression, religious freedom, and the dignity of both.
"We cannot, we do not want to, and we will not leave them alone", stated the organization, which described Anna Sofía and Caridad as honest women, living simple lives with a Christian testimony.
The Board also stated that "every human being possesses dignity given by God" and defended that "the legitimate exercise of truth and transparency should not be criminalized".
He also urged the authorities to act with justice and respect for legality and fundamental rights.
The statement also invites the congregations belonging to the Convention to pray and intercede for Anna Sofía and her mother and to accompany them during the judicial process.
He also expressed concern for other believers who, according to his statement, have experienced harassment, summonses, or restrictions related to their faith or public denunciations.
The organization clarified that it does not undertake a political institutional mission, but affirmed that it has a duty to safeguard and support its members and those who, as it stated, suffer "for the sake of justice."
However, in one of the most critical passages, the Board of Directors referenced the general situation of the country and stated that, in a Cuba marked by shortages of food, medicine, water, and electricity, the potential imprisonment of both would be "the last straw".
The statement assures that the Convention will remain attentive to the development of the process and expressed its hope that the court will act in accordance with due process.
"We pray that this outrage is not committed," concludes the document.
Anna Bensi later shared the statement and wrote: “May truth prevail, amen”. Her mother also reacted to the declaration with a brief message: “Glory to God.”
Support comes just one day before the trial set for October 1, after the hearing originally scheduled for September 17 was postponed.
Mother and daughter remain under house arrest and are prohibited from leaving the country.
Both are accused of "acts against personal and family privacy" after recording and sharing on social media the visit of plainclothes agents who came to their home to deliver a notice from State Security addressed to Caridad Silvente.
The process began in March. The case was initially filed away after the defense attorney, Roberto Ortega Ortiz, argued that the alleged crime required a direct complaint from the person who was considered affected.
In July, the MININT non-commissioned officer Yoel Leodán Rabaza Ramos filed that complaint and the case was reactivated.
According to Bensi, the officer claims he felt offended by the comments made following the video's release and intends for both to record a public apology. The plaintiff's lawyer has also requested two years of restricted freedom for each of them.
Just hours before the trial, Bensi reiterated that she does not intend to stop expressing herself. In recent statements, she asserted that “I will not be silenced” and defended that she would record and publish the video that sparked the proceedings again.
The content creator has asserted that documenting the actions of state agents serves as a form of protection for her. Independent organizations like Cubalex have also questioned the process and believe that the use of criminal offenses related to privacy to punish the recording of public officials could impact the exercise of freedom of expression.
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