Reyna Yacnara Barreto Batista, a young political prisoner from the July 11th protests in Camagüey, was released from incarceration this past Wednesday, her mother, Reyna Luiza Batista Silva, announced on social media. "I'm overjoyed that my daughter is free. Thank you, God, for this happiness. Thanks to my family, my children, my friends, and everyone who stood by us," Batista Silva shared on Facebook alongside a photo with her daughter.
"Hers was the first trial held across Cuba for those involved in the 11J demonstrations, and now she is the first woman to benefit from the upcoming changes," she added. Barreto Batista had been detained at the prison known as Campamento El Anoncillo for her involvement in the July 11, 2021 protests.
Three months following those widespread demonstrations, the 21-year-old was sentenced to four years of corrective labor with internment, accused of public disorder and assault. The Cuban government denied her parole twice: first in August 2023 and again in August 2024. The charges against Barreto Batista stemmed from her resisting a uniformed officer attempting to subdue her during the protests.
The incident was captured on video and circulated online. However, rather than serving as proof of the aggression she faced, the regime used the footage against her. On January 14, shortly after the Biden Administration announced the removal of Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and the suspension of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) revealed plans to release 553 individuals convicted of "various offenses" on the island.
MINREX emphasized that the releases are happening "in the spirit of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025" and following negotiations with the Catholic Church, the Vatican, and mediation by Pope Francis. According to the official statement, Miguel Díaz-Canel sent a letter to the Pope to inform him of this decision. Meanwhile, Amnesty International (AI) demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners in Cuba.
"In light of the Cuban government's announcement to grant penal benefits to 553 individuals, we demand the immediate release of all those unjustly imprisoned for exercising their rights in Cuba, particularly prisoners of conscience," AI declared in a statement shared on the social network X. Amnesty International highlighted that over 600 people are currently detained for their involvement in protests since 2021 and noted that prisoners of conscience such as Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, Maykel Castillo Pérez (Osorbo), José Daniel Ferrer García, Loreto Hernández García, Donaida Pérez Paseiro, Roberto Pérez Fonseca, Félix Navarro, Sayli Navarro, and Luis Robles remain incarcerated.
Key Questions About Political Prisoners in Cuba
Who is Reyna Yacnara Barreto Batista?
Reyna Yacnara Barreto Batista is a young political prisoner from Camagüey, Cuba, who was involved in the July 11, 2021 protests and was recently released.
Why was Barreto Batista imprisoned?
She was sentenced to four years of corrective labor with internment for charges of public disorder and assault during the 11J protests.
What was the Cuban government's response to the protests?
The Cuban government conducted trials and imposed sentences on many participants, including Reyna Yacnara Barreto Batista, who faced charges despite evidence of police aggression.