Independent civil society activists in Cuba are gearing up to initiate a class action lawsuit against Ana Hurtado Martínez, a Spanish national known for her fervent defense of the Cuban dictatorship. Hurtado Martínez has been accused of slandering and defaming those who oppose the regime. The effort, spearheaded by Cuban regime opponent Avana de la Torre, calls on individuals who have been victims of defamation, libel, or data breaches by Hurtado Martínez to gather testimonies and evidence within a month's time.
"We are filing a joint lawsuit for defamation, data disclosure, offenses against honor, libel, and slander," De la Torre announced during a live social media broadcast, confirming that the necessary documents to support the case have been notarized.
Legal Action Following Recent Court Victory
The move to file a class action comes in the wake of a recent legal victory against Hurtado Martínez, who was ordered by a Spanish court to pay 10,000 euros for moral damages to Cuban activist and doctor Lucio Enríquez Nodarse due to defamation.
A Pattern of Hate Speech and Media Lynchings
De la Torre highlighted that the lawsuit is based on the harm caused by the hate speech and media lynching orchestrated by Hurtado Martínez on platforms such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). According to De la Torre, numerous victims have suffered severe defamation, including the illegal disclosure of personal data protected by law.
"We've been inundated with messages, screenshots, and testimonies showing slander, libel, and most gravely, the revelation of personal data, which carries severe penalties under Spanish law," De la Torre explained.
Among the potential "evidence" collected are publications of private information, such as addresses and identity documents of certain individuals, acts deemed criminal under Spanish legislation. The activist noted that the initiative currently involves seven primary complainants, all residing in Europe, with plans to expand the lawsuit as more evidence is gathered.
"This is not just about us; there are many Cubans, both on the Island and abroad, who have fallen victim to this campaign of hate," she added.
Ana Hurtado's Controversial Background
Ana Hurtado, a Spanish journalist and outspoken advocate for the Cuban regime, has been at the center of multiple controversies due to her verbal assaults on regime opponents. In Enríquez Nodarse's case, the Spanish judiciary found Hurtado guilty of an "unlawful intrusion into the right to honor" of the exiled Cuban doctor.
During her broadcast, De la Torre recalled a pivotal moment: at the Albacete trial against Hurtado on October 1st, she approached the journalist's attorney to warn, "This won't be the only lawsuit."
According to the activist, the ongoing class action aims to hold Hurtado accountable for years of what she terms "media terrorism."
An Unprecedented Collective Effort
De la Torre's initiative signifies a coordinated effort by Cuban civil society to hold a prominent regime ally accountable. With the support of lawyers and legal representatives, the victims seek justice and reparations for the damages inflicted. De la Torre emphasized, "We will proceed, as my dear friend Lucio says, without mercy and to the very end."
This process also underscores the use of international legal resources as a tool to counter systematic defamation campaigns and attacks by regime allies, highlighting the importance of documenting and denouncing these practices. Under the rallying cry "Homeland, life, and freedom," De la Torre reaffirmed the commitment of victims and activists to advance with this class action lawsuit, which, if successful, could set a precedent in the fight against misinformation and hate speech propagated by regime allies abroad.