NEWS ALERT: GLA Requests Additional Support from IACHR for Cuban Independent Journalist Yoe Suárez

​Today the Global Liberty Alliance updated the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights about the escalating repression occurring against Cuban independent journalist Mr. Yoe Suárez, who was granted precautionary measures in April 2021.

The Organization of American States (OAS)'s Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) granted precautionary measures to protect the young Cuban journalist Yoe Suárez and his family, who have been suffering from repression and harassment for over a year at the hands of the Cuban regime.
 
Since the measures were granted in April 2021, however, Mr. Suárez has been subjected to increased harassment and threats by Cuban officials. In May 2021, the journalist was detained while on his way to visit the house of another human rights activist in serious condition due to a hunger strike. Mr. Suárez was prohibited from visiting with his acquaintance and his personal documents were confiscated.
 
Mr. Suárez was then summoned in early June to the Siboney police station in Havana for questioning. During the interrogation, an officer reiterated that authorities would continue to interfere in Mr. Suárez’s journalistic activities, along with those of his family’s. A few weeks later, on June 17, officers arrived at Mr. Suárez’s home and attempted to detain him unlawfully. After refusing to cooperate until authorities had the required documentation for a summons, they returned and took him into custody. He was released after several hours. Less than a week later, on June 23, the employer of Mr. Suárez’s wife was threatened by police in an attempt to have the employer fire her: they resisted the coercion.
 
Since the IACHR granted precautionary measures on behalf of Mr. Suárez and his family, the Cuban government has continued to violate their rights to freedom of religion, freedom of expression, right to justice and assembly, and several other fundamental rights protected under international law.

​​When issuing the precautionary measures on April 22, 2021, the IACHR notified the Cuban government of Resolution 34/2021, requesting that Cuba:

a) Ensure that its agents respect the life and personal integrity of the beneficiaries, and protect their rights in relation to acts of risk that are attributable to third parties, in accordance with the standards established by international human rights law;

b) Adopt the necessary measures so that Mr. Yoe Suárez Fernández can carry out his activities as an independent journalist without being subjected to acts of violence, intimidation, harassment and arrests in the exercise of his duties. The foregoing includes the adoption of measures so that he can exercise his freedom of expression;

c) Agree the measures to be adopted with the beneficiaries and their representatives; and
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d) Report on the actions taken to investigate the alleged events that led to the adoption of this precautionary measure and thus avoid its repetition.

Despite these measures, the Cuban government continues to harass and threaten Mr. Suárez and his family, leaving them at risk of irreparable damage. The Global Liberty Alliance respectfully requested the Commission reconsider Mr. Suárez’s case, and warn Cuba to cease and desist from these illegal reprisals.
 
GLA will continue updating on the situation as it unfolds.

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• June 21, 2021 - NEWS ALERT UPDATE: CUBA STATE SECURITY SUMMON INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST YOE SUÁREZ – SECOND TIME THIS MONTH
• June 7, 2021 - CUBA STATE SECURITY CONTINUES TO HARASS INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST YOE SUÁREZ
• April 26, 2021 - OAS COMMISSION GRANTS PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO PROTECT CUBAN JOURNALIST YOE SUÁREZ​