Cuban political prisoner Mayelín Rodríguez Prado, who was sentenced for broadcasting the August 2022 protests in Nuevitas via her social media, has allegedly suffered a severe beating at the Women's Provincial Prison in Camagüey. In this facility, where she is serving a 15-year sentence, the oppressive regime reportedly attacked her, as revealed by activist Lizandra Villamen on Friday.
Villamen shared in an audio clip, disseminated by the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights, that "they beat her and dragged her to a cell. She was requesting to be moved to a different ward, but her pleas were ignored."
The Cuban Legal Information Center, Cubalex, has highlighted that Rodríguez Prado has previously reported the harsh and inhumane conditions faced by inmates at this prison, notoriously known as "Farm 5." Her accounts have shed light on the extreme deprivation suffered by the women there, including the lack of access to clean water, inadequate food supplies, and the absence of essential medical care and medications.
Despite these dire circumstances, the prison's warden made the decision to ban the entry of food during the end-of-year festivities, worsening the already critical situation. Cubalex reports that at the start of this year, her 15-year sentence was reaffirmed by authorities—first verbally through a State Security officer and later with the official documentation.
"This process has been marked by a lack of legal safeguards, as her lawyer has shown no intention of filing additional appeals, leaving her in a vulnerable and defenseless legal position," the organization states.
Rodríguez Prado has faced direct threats, including intimidation with the threat of being placed in solitary confinement for protesting against the sentence's ratification, highlighting the severe violations of her fundamental rights.
Known on social media as "La Chamaca," Rodríguez Prado, a 24-year-old mother of a young daughter, was apprehended just hours after she live-streamed the police's violent actions against two girls during the widespread protests in Nuevitas in late August 2022.
Insights into Mayelín Rodríguez Prado's Situation
What are the conditions like in the Women's Provincial Prison in Camagüey?
The prison is notorious for its harsh conditions, including lack of clean water, inadequate nutrition, and insufficient medical care, as reported by prisoners and human rights organizations.
Why was Mayelín Rodríguez Prado sentenced to 15 years in prison?
She was sentenced for broadcasting the protests in Nuevitas in August 2022 on social media, actions that the Cuban regime deemed illegal.
What challenges has her legal defense faced?
Her legal defense has been criticized for not pursuing further appeals, leaving her in a legally vulnerable position without adequate representation.