The recent release of political prisoners in Cuba has sparked a significant social media movement advocating for the freedom of all individuals detained for political reasons. On January 15, 2025, the Cuban regime initiated the release of 553 individuals, including some political prisoners, although the total number of prisoners of conscience exceeds a thousand.
Organizations such as the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH) have called for the unconditional release of all political prisoners, underscoring the crucial role of Vatican mediation and negotiations with the United States in reaching this juncture. Additionally, activists, artists, and dissenters are demanding the freedom of all those serving sentences for expressing dissenting views.
Among those released are notable figures like Rowland Jesús Castillo, Reyna Yacnara Barreto Batista, and Liván Hernández Sosa, among others. These releases, some of which are under special parole or conditional freedom, follow the recent decision by the Biden Administration to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and to suspend Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, actions that may have facilitated this process.
The OCDH has stressed that the liberation should include all political prisoners, including opposition leaders like José Daniel Ferrer, Félix Navarro, and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara. Moreover, international entities such as Amnesty International have also demanded the immediate release of prisoners of conscience in Cuba.
List of those released by Wednesday includes:
- César Adrián Delgado Correa
- Dariel Cruz García
- Donaida Pérez Paseiro
- Jorge Gabriel Arruebarruena León
- José Miguel Gómez Mondeja
- Katia Beirut Rodríguez
- Liván Hernández Sosa
- Lisdany Rodríguez Isaac
- Magdiel Rodríguez García
- Mailene Noguera Santiesteban
- Reyna Yacnara Barreto Batista
- Rogelio Lázaro Domínguez Pérez
- Yessica Coimbra Noriega
Key Questions About Political Prisoners in Cuba
What is the current number of political prisoners in Cuba?
The total number of political prisoners, or prisoners of conscience, in Cuba exceeds a thousand, despite recent releases.
Who are some notable figures recently released in Cuba?
Notable individuals recently freed include Rowland Jesús Castillo, Reyna Yacnara Barreto Batista, and Liván Hernández Sosa.
What actions by the Biden Administration may have influenced these releases?
The Biden Administration's removal of Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and suspension of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act may have facilitated these releases.