General briefing: Cuba

Most religious groups have experienced religious repression in Cuba since the 1959 revolution.

After some reforms and tolerance in the 1990s, in recent years violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) have increased significantly in number and severity. These violations take place in regions across the island and are predominantly perpetrated by the Office of Religious Affairs (ORA), which oversees all religious activity on the island, and is part of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party.

The recent election of President Miguel Diaz-Canel has not resulted in any improvements to the situation of religious groups in the country, as FoRB violations have continued to be widely reported. Although a citizens’ consultation of a new, government-proposed draft constitution is currently underway, few are optimistic about the improvement of human rights, given that the constitution explicitly recognises the socialist state as the only legitimate political entity on the island.

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