Cuba president urged to uphold religious freedom

CSW calls on Cubas newly-appointed President, Miguel Diaz-Canel, to abolish the Office of Religious Affairs.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) calls on Cuba’s newly-appointed President, Miguel Diaz-Canel, to abolish the Office of Religious Affairs (ORA) and to adopt legislation protecting freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all.

Diaz-Canel was selected to succeed President Raul Castro after gaining the unanimous approval of all members of the Cuban National Assembly.

His appointment marks the first time in nearly six-decades that Cuba will be governed by an individual outside of the Castro family, and the first time that the president of Cuba is not the head of the Communist Party. 86 year-old Raul Castro remains head of the Communist Party of Cuba and the armed forces.

The Office of Religious Affairs (ORA), which regulates religious affairs on the island, is part of the Central Committee of the Communist party and does not operate within any other official guidelines or legal framework. This structure gives its officials sweeping and arbitrary power over religious groups and associations, and individuals associated with these groups.

According to CSW’s 2018 report on FoRB in Cuba, the ORA remains the prime perpetrator of religious freedom violations across the island: “The ORA’s consistent hostility, at both national and provincial levels, directed at the leadership of many religious groups is evidence to many Cuban religious leaders that this government body exists solely to monitor and restrict the activities of religious groups.”

CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said: “President Diaz-Canel’s appointment presents an opportunity for the Cuban government to meaningfully separate the organs of the state from Communist party. CSW urges the Cuban government to abolish the ORA, to fully ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief for all.”