Home at last, but still not free. 

He was reunited with his family, but remains under strict restrictions as he awaits trial.

For three months, Pastor Alexis was denied any contact with the outside world. We could only imagine what he was enduring, based on our knowledge of how Christians are treated inside Cuba’s prisons.

‘Being separated from my family was especially painful,’ he said after his release. ‘I suffered a lot there.’

He described the conditions as ‘very difficult’, with food that was almost impossible to eat and sometimes spoiled.

Thanks to your support, our advocates were able to document Pastor Alexis’ case and made sure people in authority knew about it. We provided advice, assistance and solidarity to Pastor Alexis’ family when they needed it most.

Now he is back home for the first time in months, and that is a victory worth celebrating. However, he must report to the authorities to sign in every week, on Fridays and Sundays, while awaiting trial. Yet he should never have been arrested at all.

When his community suffered days without water and electricity in yet another national blackout, Pastor Alexis spoke out. He stood alongside ordinary Cubans calling for justice and publicly challenged a government official. He was arrested on public disorder charges.

Many believe Pastor Alexis’ detention was never really about public disorder at all, but about silencing a respected church leader whose faith, influence and service to vulnerable people were making a difference in his community.