On October 1, acting leadership of the Association of Free Yorubas of Cuba made a statement responding to the Provincial Prosecutor of Villa Clara’s findings and sentencing for four members of the Free Yorubas and other political activists who joined the mass July 11 protests in Placetas and throughout Cuba.

​Earlier this week, the Municipal Prosecutor’s Office of Placetas in Villa Clara sentenced over ten individuals to 8-10 years in prison for participation in protests that took place on July 11. Charges were filed against several members of the Association of Free Yorubas of Cuba and other opposition group affiliates for a variety of crimes including disobedience, public disorder and assault/attack.

UPDATE AS OF 9/28/2021 (5:00PM)
The prosecutor has officially charged sisters Lisdiani & Lisdani with 1 count public disorder, two counts of disobedience, and two counts of assault/attack for a total of 10 years in prison with additional travel restrictions.

MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON!

On August 11, 2021, spokesperson for the Association of Free Yorubas of Cuba, Ms. Yaimara Reyes Soler, recorded the following message of support for fellow members Donaida Perez Paseiro, Loreto Hernandez Garcia, and twin sisters Lisdiany and Lisdany Rodriguez Isak (aka Lisdiani & Lisdani Rodriguez Isaac), all of which are currently imprisoned in Santa Clara, Cuba following nation-wide protests on July 11. 

​Last month, several members of the Association of Free Yorubas of Cuba were detained and now face charges related to participation in peaceful protests that broke out in provinces across the island on July 11.
 
The Free Yorubas charged, including members Loreto Hernandez Garcia, Donaida Perez Paseiro, and Elizabeth Cintra Garcia, are currently being held in provisional prisons or under house arrest as a precautionary measure until a trial is held.

​On July 30, 2021, the People’s Provincial Court of Santiago de Cuba denied a Habeas Corpus petition filed on behalf of evangelical Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo, who has been unjustly held incommunicado for over 4 weeks after having peacefully protested July 11.

​Thousands of Cubans took to the streets on Sunday in several cities throughout their island nation to peacefully assemble and protest, calling for liberty, free exercise of their fundamental freedoms, and change. Cuban state security forces were deployed, and many demonstrators were beaten, arrested and disappeared by the evening. The whereabouts of many are still unknown.

UPDATED JUNE 10, 2021

​On June 1, 2021, Cuban political prisoner and member of UNPACU, Alberto Valle Pérez, was released from prison after serving nearly 5 years.

On May 10, 2021, a group of 34 organizations and individuals penned a letter to Cuban Ambassador Lianys Torres Rivera calling for the repeal of Legal Decrees 349 and 370.