Authorities in Granma revoked the permission to hold a Christian march in Manzanillo that was scheduled for this Thursday, informing Reverend Pastor Manuel Remón of the decision just hours before the event.
The local Christian community denounced on Facebook the suspension, in a statement that openly questioned the consistency of the authorities.
What makes the case particularly striking is the sequence of events: since Sunday, the community had a document signed by the highest municipal authorities authorizing the activity. On Tuesday, that permit was reaffirmed, with the only change being the location of the gathering. However, on Wednesday, the authorities reversed their decision without providing any explanation.
"This is why it is difficult to understand that just a few hours before it was to take place, a decision was made to suspend it," states the statement issued by the user Los Saavedra SURL Manzanillo, the name of a local micro, small and medium-sized enterprise.
The text, written in a respectful yet firm tone, urges the authorities to "be more analytical and consistent" and points out their lack of clarity: "If there was no genuine intention to allow this act of love, faith, and prayer, it would have been more transparent not to authorize it from the very beginning."
And he called upon his followers to join a prayer chain for the rulers, asking God to grant them wisdom, sensitivity, and discernment. "Christ taught us to love and forgive, even in the most difficult moments."
In a post afterwards, Los Saavedra SURL clarified that the decision to suspend the event was not made by the municipal authorities, but rather by a provincial one.
"It is not about finding culprits or defending some to point fingers at others; it is about presenting the facts fairly, without prejudice, and without allowing emotions to lead us to erroneous judgments," he detailed.
The publication recalled the difficult times the country is experiencing and states that in the face of this reality, the Church has a message from Jesus Christ that saves, restores, forgives, and offers new life.
"This walk was not intended to impose a religion or confront anyone. We wanted to share a message of love, hope, and transformation. Because when a family finds Christ, when someone leaves drugs behind, when a home is restored or a person regains hope, society as a whole benefits," he emphasized.
The case fits a documented pattern of repression by the regime against religious manifestations on the Island. In the Bayamo-Manzanillo diocese itself, there were religious activities canceled during Holy Week of 2024.
In 2025, the government banned for the second consecutive year the Palm Sunday procession in El Vedado, and also prohibited the historic procession of Christ of Humility in Trinidad, Sancti Spíritus, a tradition spanning over 100 years.
In 2026, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has documented between 87 and 140 monthly violations of religious freedom in Cuba: 139 in May, 122 in July, 140 in August, and 137 in September.
Evangelical pastors have faced direct arrests. The pastor Maikel Pupo Velázquez was arrested at the end of September in Camagüey after calling on Cuban churches to hold a public prayer for Cuba, accused of "disobedience."
In October, the Alliance of Non-Registered Cuban Churches reported reprisals against pastors of the "Viento Recio" ministry, including migration restrictions, surveillance, and interrogations.
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