HAVANA.- Yennis Artola del Sola Cuban cultural promoter, was sentenced to eight years in prison for recording and spreading phrases protesting against the designated ruler of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canelgenerating strong rejection from the international community.
The incident occurred in July 2022, when Artola del Sol filmed his partner Mayeln Rodrguez while writing “Down with Diaz-Canel singao” in charcoal on the wall of an old noodle factory in Camagüey. The video, which quickly went viral on social media, was followed a few days later by another recording of a similar protest phrase.
These actions provoked an immediate response from the Cuban regime, which arrested Artola del Sol on charges of “enemy propaganda.” After a trial widely criticized by international observers and human rights defenders for a lack of procedural guarantees, the People’s Provincial Court of Camagüey issued the sentence in April 2024.
Artola del Sol’s defense attorney, the Dr. Sergio Fernandezdenounced the judicial process as a farce designed to silence political dissent on the island. She also reported inhumane conditions in which her client was detained, including the lack of adequate medical care after contracting scabies due to the poor prison conditions.
The case highlights tensions in Cuba over freedom of expression and human rights. International organisations have expressed concern about the increasing number of cases of repression against political activists and the use of restrictive laws to silence dissent.
FUENTE: DLA WRITING
