Increased restrictions on churches in run up to anniversary of protests

Religious leaders in Cuba are reporting that the authorities are implementing additional restrictions on religious activities around the fourth anniversary of unprecedented island-wide protests that took place on 11 July 2021. Leaders of churches from different denominations across the country have been told not to permit the entry of any families of political prisoners to religious activities taking place on the dates around the anniversary.

In addition, some religious leaders of unregistered churches have been warned that they are not permitted to hold services if more than a certain number – the exact number varies – of people are expected to attend. Some registered churches have been denied permission to hold any special activities on the anniversary – a concert, for example – despite the activities having no relation to the 11 July 2021 protests.

A source told CSW that while not all religious groups have seen restrictions imposed, both registered and unregistered churches that the government has identified as ‘more activist’, or resistant to government pressure, especially outside of Havana, have been targeted strategically by the authorities to limit any possible repeat of the 2021 protests.

Reverend Enrique Fundora Perez, an exiled Cuban pastor and freedom of religion or belief defender, said: ‘Our contacts with families [of political prisoners] who attend churches and various key pastors have informed us that, as in previous years, they cannot travel outside their municipality … Christian family members of prisoners cannot leave their homes that day. Furthermore, services that attract more than 50 or 100 people must be canceled.’

Independent civil society leaders are being targeted, likely for the same reason. Henry Constantin Ferreiro, the director of La Hora de Cuba, an independent media outlet, was arrested on 29 June after he accompanied a colleague who was complying with a police summons in Camagüey. Although the colleague, Iris Mariño was released, Mr Ferreiro is still detained and is believed to have been transferred to the State Security base in Camagüey known as Villa Maria Luisa.

The government’s limiting of freedom of assembly around the anniversary of the protests comes alongside a worsening economic situation, including scarcity of food staples and medicine, and lengthy blackouts with limited electricity diverted to supply hotels and tourist resorts. Some of the political prisoners arrested in connection with the 2021 protests and freed in January 2025, such as Donaida Pérez Paseiro, a Yoruba religious leader who is in ill health, have been returned to maximum security prisons to complete their sentences.

CSW’s Director of Advocacy Anna Lee Stangl said: ‘We call on the Cuban government to withdraw the restrictions it has imposed on religious groups affecting their freedom of assembly in the run up to the fourth anniversary of the protests of 11 July 2021, and demand that all political prisoners, including Donaida Pérez Paseiro and Henry Constantin Ferreiro, be released immediately. We call on the members of the international community to communicate through their respective embassies in Havana to the Cuban government that increased repression of civil rights is unacceptable and urge them to engage actively and regularly with independent civil society organisations, including religious groups, as a demonstration of support.’