Opposition groups and activists have sounded the alarm over the alleged murder of Manuel de Jesús Guillén Esplugas, a political prisoner held at Combinado del Este prison in Havana. Ana Belkis Ferrer, using José Daniel Ferrer's account on the social platform X, accused the Cuban regime of the crime against Guillén, who was a prominent member of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), an advocate for Cuba Decide, and an active participant in the 11th of July (11J) protests.
Reports circulating on social media claim that Guillén, aged 30, was murdered under mysterious circumstances that remain unexplained by official authorities. "Manuel de Jesús Guillén Esplugas has been brutally murdered while confined at Combinado del Este prison," Ferrer declared, questioning, "How much longer will these criminals, tyrants, drug traffickers, and terrorists remain unpunished?" She demanded justice for victims of repression in Cuba and reiterated the call for the release of all political detainees, including José Daniel Ferrer, who is reportedly enduring inhumane prison conditions.
Another opposition figure, Rosa María Payá, leader of the Cuba Decide movement, echoed these sentiments on X, labeling the Cuban regime as "a government of murderers, a cruel and torturous dictatorship," and asserted, "They beat him to death!" She highlighted Guillén's role as a political prisoner for his involvement in the 11J protests and pointed fingers at Miguel Díaz-Canel and General Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas as accountable for Guillén's death.
Legal Violations and Human Rights Concerns
In 2023, Guillén had been held for over a year and a half without a trial date or official charges. His mother, Dania María Esplugas, filed a second petition for a Habeas Corpus before the Provincial Court of Havana, demanding his immediate release after the initial request was dismissed by the State Security Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice in January.
Opponents have highlighted Guillén's situation as a glaring example of the legal violations perpetrated by the Cuban regime, especially in cases tied to the 11J social unrest. Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello, coordinator of the Center for Human Rights, criticized the government for failing to adhere to its socialist legal principles during these proceedings.
Ongoing Prisoner Deaths Raise Alarms
Guillén was violently arrested at his home in Old Havana on July 17, 2021, after sharing videos of his involvement in the 11J protests online. This incident is not isolated, as the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights reported the death of political prisoner Luis Barrios Díaz in November due to alleged negligence and irregularities by prison authorities. Barrios, detained since the 11J protests, died of respiratory complications after inadequate medical attention.
In another tragic case, political prisoner Gerardo Díaz Alonso, aged 35, and sentenced to 14 years for participating in the 2021 protests in Cárdenas, Matanzas, succumbed to a heart attack in October. Díaz Alonso, a father of two, was held at the high-security Canaleta prison in Ciego de Ávila.
Moreover, the Cuban Prisons Documentation Center confirmed the death of political prisoner Yosandri Mulet Almarales in August, following severe injuries from a suicide attempt during a work-release program. This organization reported the incident on August 22, marking Mulet's second and final suicide attempt.
Human Rights Reports and Harrowing Conditions
The non-governmental organization Cubalex, dedicated to monitoring human rights in Cuba and providing free legal assistance, released a report on repression in the country during the first half of 2024. The report documented 26 deaths in custody, stemming from harsh prison conditions marked by torture, cruel treatment, and a severe lack of medical care.
These figures become even more concerning when viewed over the past two years, during which 56 deaths have occurred under the custody of Cuban authorities. As of now, the Cuban regime continues to detain 554 individuals for participating in the widespread anti-government protests of July 2021, which took place across numerous cities and towns in Cuba, marking the largest demonstrations seen in the country.
Human Rights Violations in Cuban Prisons
What were the circumstances surrounding Manuel de Jesús Guillén's death?
Manuel de Jesús Guillén, a political prisoner, was allegedly murdered under undisclosed circumstances while held at the Combinado del Este prison in Havana. The authorities have yet to clarify the details of his death.
What actions have been taken by Guillén's family regarding his detention?
Guillén's mother, Dania María Esplugas, filed a second Habeas Corpus petition with the Provincial Court of Havana demanding his immediate release, as the first was dismissed by the State Security Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice.
How many deaths in custody have been reported in Cuba recently?
In the first half of 2024, there were 26 reported deaths in custody. Over the past two years, 56 deaths have occurred under the custody of Cuban authorities, highlighting the severe conditions in detention centers.