The top court in Cuba has ruled that two influential activists need to be taken back into custody because they supposedly violated the conditions of their parole.
The ruling comes from the Tribunal Supremo Popular, also referred to as the People’s Supreme Court, and affects Jose Daniel Ferrer and Felix Navarro.
Maricela Sosa, the vice president of the court, stated, “In addition to failing to follow the parole conditions, Ferrer and Navarro are known for instigating disorder and disrespecting authorities both online and in their public engagements, as well as maintaining links with the US embassy chief.”
Both men had previously been freed earlier this year through a deal negotiated by the late Pope Francis and the Catholic Church, which involved the US government briefly removing Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. However, this decision was quickly overturned when Donald Trump came into office as the new president of the US.
Despite the volatility in the political situation, Cuba did complete its part of the bargain, releasing 553 individuals, though critics of the government label them as “political prisoners” and the Cuban government disputes this.
The US Department of State has released a statement condemning the recent arrests, including the detention of Ferrer’s wife and child, calling it the “brutal treatment and unjust detention of Cuban patriots” and pledging that the US Embassy in Havana would continue to support those advocating for their civil rights in Cuba.
Ferrer, a fisherman and founder of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNCACU), has been a significant voice calling for democratic change in Cuba, which has led to frequent conflicts with the government. He views the prisoner release deal as a political move by the Cuban government.
Ferrer and Navarro had been arrested before for their perceived collaboration with the US government and for their vocal opposition to the Cuban regime. Ferrer additionally faced accusations of assault, which he denies.
In reaction to his brother’s re-arrest, Ferrer’s sister Ana Belkis Ferrer Garcia stated that the group’s headquarters were raided and several activists were taken into custody, including her brother and his family. She also condemned the Cuban government’s actions as “miserable and cowardly.”
Human rights groups have criticized the arrests as well, linking the events to the recent death of Pope Francis and suggesting that the Cuban leadership has quickly reneged on the commitments made in the deal.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/30/cuba-re-arrests-two-high-profile-dissidents-after-vatican-prisoner-release?traffic_source=rss
