A new report by the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights and independent outlet elTOQUE reveals a grim picture of state violence in Cuba, with at least 95 individuals losing their lives at the hands of law enforcement over the past five years. This staggering figure includes more than 40 prisoner deaths in 2024 alone.
The document sheds light on the escalating issue of police brutality, citing 287 non-lethal encounters with the police during the same period. Compiled from social media reports, testimonies from organizations like Cubalex, Justicia 11J, and Prisoners Defenders, as well as family accounts, the study paints a disturbing portrait of state violence.
Excessive Force and Human Rights Violations
Defining "police violence" as the unwarranted or excessive use of force by state agents, the report highlights physical assaults and human rights violations, particularly in Cuba's penal system. The document indicates that such aggression is often aimed at those who publicly oppose the government, heightening risks for political dissidents and prisoners of conscience. "Violence doesn't only occur in fatalities; there are continuous, unnoticed acts within the prison walls," the authors emphasize.
Challenges in Data Collection
One of the significant hurdles in documenting these abuses is the lack of transparency from Cuban authorities. According to the report, this opacity "hinders public discourse and sweeps the harsh reality under the rug," complicating efforts to bring these issues to light.
Between 2018 and 2023, the report identifies seven categories of physical violence: sexual abuse, arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killings, denial of medical care, death in custody, firearm use, and excessive force.
Cases of Death Under Custody
A particularly distressing case is that of Aiser Roque Rivero, a 17-year-old who died under police custody in February 2023 in Villa Clara. His family disputes the official suicide narrative, with his father, Yoan Roque, asserting that Aiser faced relentless harassment after participating in the July 11, 2021, protests. Witnesses reported finding him dead under suspicious circumstances after he declared a protest against his jailers. "The state bears responsibility for detainees' safety, yet often neglects this duty," the report stresses.
The document records additional deaths under state custody. Of the 95 deaths noted, 76 occurred in detention centers, with causes ranging from suicides and untreated medical conditions to incidents involving lethal force. Cuban authorities have largely remained silent or downplayed these occurrences, with accountability for the responsible parties being rare.
Public Space Violence
Violence is not confined to detention facilities. Over the last five years, 17 people have died in public spaces following confrontations with security forces. One such incident involved Zinedine Zidane Batista Álvarez, an adolescent shot by police in Santa Clara in July 2022. The report underscores that young individuals involved in the July 11 protests, like Zinedine, have been persistently targeted by the authorities.
Beyond fatalities, the report details numerous instances of non-lethal violence. The July 11 and 12, 2021, protests were particularly brutal, with 129 out of 395 recorded incidents of police abuse occurring during these demonstrations. Excessive force, violent arrests, and sexual abuse are cited as common tactics used against protesters and dissidents.
The state's tight grip on media and lack of transparency prevent these abuses from gaining visibility, fostering a culture of impunity and exacerbating citizens' vulnerability to state power. Protecting the security forces' reputation and manipulating official accounts of such incidents contribute to concealing the violence, the report concludes.