International organizations and colleagues of Cuban rapper Maykel Osorbo are commemorating his third year in prison, where he faces charges of assault, resistance, and contempt by the regime. Amnesty International for the Americas continues to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Osorbo, who has been detained since 2021.
Eliexer Márquez Duany, known as El Funky, was detained by Cuban authorities on the same day as Osorbo but was released a few days later. He remembered his comrade with a heartfelt post on Instagram. "His crime was speaking the truth about his life, his people, and singing those truths," El Funky said, recalling the events from three years ago.
El Funky noted that "on May 18, 2021, Maykel Castillo (Osorbo) was taken from his home in Old Havana without a shirt or shoes," sharing several photos to accompany his words. He mentioned that "in prison, Maykel has been subjected to all kinds of violence, but violence has been a known part of his life. What the henchmen want is for Maykel to return to it, but since the day he understood what freedom is about, Maykel vowed to make it the central motive of his life."
Maykel was detained by State Security officers and police who arrived at his house while he was having lunch, taking him away without allowing him to get dressed. That day, Osorbo woke up with double the surveillance that the Cuban government had imposed on him in previous days.
"We knew it would be like this after the news broke that Luis Manuel is protesting in Calixto García hospital. But it’s not enough for them to have Luis, or Esteban, and all the others already imprisoned. Now they've also taken Maykel," said friends of the rapper.
In June 2022, Osorbo was sentenced to nine years and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara to five years in prison. Both were convicted of alleged acts of disrespect to national symbols, contempt, defamation of institutions and organizations, and of heroes and martyrs, assault, resistance, and public disorder, according to a statement from the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Cuba.
From prison, Osorbo has reported the regime's attempts to destabilize him physically and psychologically. Recently, he was brutally beaten to the point where he almost lost an ear.
During the last visit from his family, including his wife Vivianny Fuentes, Osorbo recounted the incident and handed over a letter and the handkerchief he used to stop the bleeding from his ear on the day of the assault. The attack occurred during breakfast on April 18, when other prisoners were protesting the food shortage after the bread supply ran out.
Understanding the Arrest and Imprisonment of Maykel Osorbo
This section aims to answer common questions related to the arrest and ongoing imprisonment of Cuban rapper Maykel Osorbo.
Why was Maykel Osorbo arrested?
Maykel Osorbo was arrested for charges including assault, resistance, and contempt by the Cuban regime. His actual "crime" was speaking the truth about his life and his people through his music.
What has Amnesty International done regarding Osorbo's imprisonment?
Amnesty International for the Americas has continually demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Maykel Osorbo, labeling his detention as unjust.
What happened to Maykel Osorbo in prison?
Maykel Osorbo has been subjected to various forms of violence in prison. Recently, he was brutally beaten, almost losing an ear, during a protest by other prisoners over food shortages.