University of Sancti Spíritus Professor Ariel Manuel Martin Barroso was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly painting anti-government graffiti under charges that appear to be entirely politically motivated against his fundamental right to free expression. He was also not allowed contact with the outside world for five to six months following his arrest in early 2025, stripping ... Continue Reading>>
Cuban Biologist Arrested for Calling Forest Ranger a “Rural Guard”
Ariel Ruiz Urquiola, a Cuban Biologist was arrested and sentenced for referring to a Forest Ranger as a Rural Guard. He was charged with “disrespecting a government official.” It has been reported that his prosecution stems from his conflict with authorities over his efforts to expose violations of environmental regulations in the Vinales region. He was supposedly expelled from the Center of ... Continue Reading>>
CCS Statement of Shock at Death of Cuban Activist Wilmar Villar Mendoza After Hunger Strike in Jail
The Committee of Concerned Scientists expresses its shock and sadness at the death of Wilmar Villar Mendoza, a 31-year old member of the human rights group UMPACU (Union Patriotica de Cuba). Villar was beaten and arrested following a peaceful protest in Contramaestre on November 14, 2011, and sentenced to four years in prison. He began a hunger strike in the Prison of Aguadores on November 25, ... Continue Reading>>
Cuban Dissident Released
Darsi Ferrer, the director of the Juan Bruno Zayas Health and Human Rights Centre, was convicted on 22 June on spurious charges of receiving illegally obtained goods and "violence or intimidation against a state official" and sentenced to one year's imprisonment and three months' "correctional work" outside the prison. As he had already been imprisoned for almost a year he was immediately ... Continue Reading>>
Cuba: doctor arrested
Dr. Darsi Ferrer and his wife, Yusnaymi Jorge Soca, were arrested in July, according to human rights advocates, the day before they planned to lead a demonstration in Havana. Dr. Ferrer is the Director of the Juan Bruno Zayas Center for Health and Human Rights in Havana. An Afro-Cuban medical professional, Dr. Ferrer established the center to offer medical attention to extremely poor Cubans who ... Continue Reading>>