Members of the Association of Free Yorubas of Cuba (Asociación de Yorubas Libres de Cuba, or “Free Yorubas”) are regular victims of harassment by Cuban State Security.
The association was founded in 2012 by Yorubas who disagreed with the Yoruba Cultural Association of Cuba, which is controlled by the government watchdog Office of Religious Affairs (ORA). Free Yorubas have been subject to arbitrary detentions and beatings, destruction of ceremonial objects, police monitoring, and searches-and-seizures without probable cause. State hostility towards the Free Yorubas seems to have escalated since early February 2020, when they challenged Ms. Caridad Diego, head of the ORA, to a public debate on freedom of conscience.
Free Yorubas Public Relations head Ms. Eliaisys Almeida Pavón was detained in Placetas, Villa Clara, on February 24, 2020. Executive Secretary and Vice President and married couple Ms. Donaida Pérez Paseiro and Mr. Loreto Hernández García were detained and threatened on March 11, 2020. Ms. Pérez alleges in her statement, the officials mocked all faiths, professing that “there is only one god, Fidel Castro,” and stating an obscenity about God, the saints, and orishas. On August 3, 2020, three members of the Free Yorubas were separately summoned to the Placetas, Villa Clara police station and threatened. On September 30, 2020, two Free Yorubas leaders were held overnight and beaten; one of the women left police custody with a broken arm. On July 19, 2021, several members of the Association of Free Yorubas of Cuba were charged as a result of participation in peaceful protests that broke out in provinces all across the island on July 11. Many of them are being detained in provisional prisons until trials are held as a precautionary measure.
The regime regularly uses police citations to harass and intimidate Free Yorubas and other believers independent of the state. The Global Liberty Alliance continues to monitor the Cuban regime’s treatment of the Free Yorubas and will fight for their freedom of belief.
The association was founded in 2012 by Yorubas who disagreed with the Yoruba Cultural Association of Cuba, which is controlled by the government watchdog Office of Religious Affairs (ORA). Free Yorubas have been subject to arbitrary detentions and beatings, destruction of ceremonial objects, police monitoring, and searches-and-seizures without probable cause. State hostility towards the Free Yorubas seems to have escalated since early February 2020, when they challenged Ms. Caridad Diego, head of the ORA, to a public debate on freedom of conscience.
Free Yorubas Public Relations head Ms. Eliaisys Almeida Pavón was detained in Placetas, Villa Clara, on February 24, 2020. Executive Secretary and Vice President and married couple Ms. Donaida Pérez Paseiro and Mr. Loreto Hernández García were detained and threatened on March 11, 2020. Ms. Pérez alleges in her statement, the officials mocked all faiths, professing that “there is only one god, Fidel Castro,” and stating an obscenity about God, the saints, and orishas. On August 3, 2020, three members of the Free Yorubas were separately summoned to the Placetas, Villa Clara police station and threatened. On September 30, 2020, two Free Yorubas leaders were held overnight and beaten; one of the women left police custody with a broken arm. On July 19, 2021, several members of the Association of Free Yorubas of Cuba were charged as a result of participation in peaceful protests that broke out in provinces all across the island on July 11. Many of them are being detained in provisional prisons until trials are held as a precautionary measure.
The regime regularly uses police citations to harass and intimidate Free Yorubas and other believers independent of the state. The Global Liberty Alliance continues to monitor the Cuban regime’s treatment of the Free Yorubas and will fight for their freedom of belief.
Free Yorubas detained after July 11, 2021 protests
DONAIDA PÉREZ PASEIRo
President
AGE: 50 DETAINED SINCE: July 16, 2021 CHARGES: One count public disorder, two counts disobedience/contempt, and one count of assault/attack. As a joint penalty she will face eight years in prison with additional restrictions on travel. SENTENCE: Detained in Guamajal prison (Santa Clara, Cuba) pending trial. |
LORETO HERNÁNDEZ GARCÍA
Vice President
AGE: 50 DETAINED SINCE: July 15, 2021 CHARGES: One count public disorder and two counts disobedience/contempt for a total of eight years in prison, confiscation of personal finances, and additional travel restrictions. SENTENCE: Detained in La Pendiente prison (Santa Clara, Cuba) pending trial. |
LISDIANI & LISDANI RODRÍGUEZ ISAAc
Members
AGES: 22 DETAINED SINCE: July 18, 2021 CHARGES: One count public disorder; two counts of disobedience, two counts of assault/attack for a total of 10 years in prison with additional travel restrictions. SENTENCE: Detained in Guamajal prison (Santa Clara, Cuba) pending trial. |
USCIRF - Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List
The following members of the Free Yorubas of Cuba have been added to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) database as victims of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) violations:
Additional USCIRF Reports on Religious Freedom in Cuba:
U.S. State Department Reports on International Religious Freedom (Cuba):
The following members of the Free Yorubas of Cuba have been added to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) database as victims of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) violations:
- Donaida Pérez Paseiro
- Loreto Hernández García
- Lisdani Rodríguez Isaac
- Lisdiani Rodriguez Isaac
- Elizabeth Cintra García
Additional USCIRF Reports on Religious Freedom in Cuba:
- 2023 - USCIRF Annual Report (includes Free Yorubas of Cuba)
- 2021 – USCIRF Factsheet on Protests in Cuba and Religious Freedom
- 2021 – USCIRF 2021 Annual Report
- 2021 - USCIRF Factsheet: Santería in Cuba
- 2020 – USCIRF 2020 Annual Report
U.S. State Department Reports on International Religious Freedom (Cuba):
- 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom (Free Yorubas mentioned)
- 2020 Report on International Religious Freedom (Free Yorubas mentioned)
- 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom (Free Yorubas mentioned)
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