Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has warned of increased suppression in Cuba in a new report to mark the fifth anniversary of a series of protests across the island nation.
Protests and riots broke out across the country on 11 July 2021 in response to food and medicine shortages, Covid restrictions and the general lack of economic opportunities and political freedom in the communist country.
At least one person was killed in the unrest, while hundreds were arrested in the subsequent government crackdown.
As well as cracking down on political dissent, CSW’s report said that the “new normal” now includes further suppression of religious freedom.
From January 2025 to June 2026, CSW identified 667 incidents in which freedom of religion was violated. It said that the violations were not restricted to any particular group, with all denominations impacted as well as both officially recognised and unregistered churches.
Violations took various forms, ranging from children being verbally abused for their beliefs all the way up to people being arbitrarily detained and subjected to interrogations, surveillance or threats.
The report states that communist authorities are even imprisoning people for crimes they have not yet committed. Religious leaders are being threatened and intimidated by the use of Actas de Advertencia, documents that justify the imprisonment of people for supposed future crimes.
CSW highlighted the case of Protestant Pastor Alexis Padrón Lorenzo, who was detained in June and is currently being held incommunicado.
Pastor Padrón Lorenzo has spoken about the suffering of the ordinary people of Cuba and has expressed opposition to the communist system. After challenging government officials, Pastor Padrón Lorenzo was detained for “public disorder”.
He was allegedly physically abused while being interrogated and his family fear he may be in a critical condition due to his rheumatoid arthritis.
CSW’s Director of Advocacy and Americas Team Leader Anna Lee Stangl, said, “Five years since Cubans from all walks of life took to the streets to demand justice, human rights and democracy, their calls remain intentionally unheeded by the Cuban Communist Party, which instead remains intent on rejecting any idea of political or social reform even as Cuba grapples with an increasingly acute humanitarian crisis.
“We call on the international community to honour the bravery of Cubans across the island, including many religious leaders, who continue to speak publicly and honestly about the situation in the country by amplifying their voices and seeking creative and co-ordinated ways to support them.”
