Manuel de Jesús Guillén Esplugas, a 29-year-old political prisoner who died on Saturday at the Combinado del Este prison in Havana, is alleged to have been murdered by agents of the Cuban regime, according to his mother. Dania María Esplugas Falcó refuted the official narrative that claimed her son's death was a suicide, accusing prison authorities of murder, cover-up, and deceit towards the family.
"They beat him to death, tortured him, broke his nose, strangled him with a military belt, stomped on him, and hit him so hard that his lung was damaged, leading to his death by asphyxiation," Esplugas Falcó told Martí Noticias. "He wet his pants from the blows. It was a horrific death," she added.
Guillén Esplugas was serving a six-year sentence for "damages" after participating in the historic July 11, 2021 protests. His mother revealed he was in solitary confinement, allegedly for trying to escape prison, at the time of his death. "They tied his hands to beat him and strangled him with a belt until he died," she explained.
Family members shared photos showing injuries to his head, back, and neck, reinforcing claims of torture. Esplugas Falcó also mentioned that State Security pressured Guillén Esplugas to collaborate, but he refused, which she believes ultimately cost him his life. "They wanted him to talk and switch sides, but my son said no, and for that, they killed him," she asserted.
His cousin, Yan Franco Esplugas, supported these claims and revealed on social media that Guillén Esplugas had rejected repeated attempts by State Security to recruit him. Esplugas Falcó did not permit an autopsy, yet the official report stated death by asphyxiation. Despite their inquiries, Martí Noticias received no response from Combinado del Este.
Visibly shaken, the mother called for justice and solidarity: "I want justice for my son's death. He was a great young man. To me, he is the greatest little giant in the world, my little boy. I want mothers like me, with children in prison—political and common prisoners—to see a mother's pain, to fight for their children, and to protest because what happened to me could happen to their children too."
Manuel de Jesús Guillén Esplugas was a member of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) and an advocate for the Cuba Decide project. His case has sparked a wave of denunciations and expressions of grief among civil society, families of political prisoners, and human rights organizations questioning the repression and impunity of Cuba's authoritarian regime.
Key Questions Surrounding the Death of Manuel Guillén Esplugas
What were the circumstances of Manuel Guillén Esplugas's death?
Manuel Guillén Esplugas was allegedly tortured and murdered by agents of the Cuban regime while in prison, contradicting the official claim of suicide. His mother details severe physical abuse leading to asphyxiation.
Why was Manuel Guillén Esplugas imprisoned?
He was serving a six-year sentence for "damages" after participating in the protests on July 11, 2021, which were significant demonstrations against the Cuban government.
How has the public reacted to Guillén Esplugas's death?
His death has triggered widespread denunciations and expressions of grief among civil society, families of political prisoners, and human rights organizations, questioning the Cuban regime's repression and impunity.