CSW Report Warns of Increased Suppression in Cuba After Protests

Rising Repression in Cuba: CSW Report Highlights Alarming Trends

In light of the fifth anniversary of widespread protests in Cuba, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has issued a report highlighting a troubling increase in government repression across the island nation.

The protests, which erupted on 11 July 2021, were sparked by shortages in food and medicine, strict Covid-19 measures, and a perceived lack of economic and political freedoms under Cuba’s communist regime.

These demonstrations led to the death of at least one individual and the arrest of hundreds more amid a severe crackdown by authorities.

CSW’s recent findings indicate that the clampdown extends beyond political dissent, encroaching significantly on religious freedoms as well.

Between January 2025 and June 2026, CSW recorded 667 incidents of religious freedom violations affecting a wide array of religious groups, including both officially recognized and unregistered churches.

These infringements range from verbal assaults on children for their beliefs to arbitrary detentions and threats, with individuals subjected to interrogations and continuous surveillance.

The report also reveals that authorities are employing measures such as Actas de Advertencia to detain individuals for crimes not yet committed, with religious leaders being particularly targeted through intimidation.

An illustrative case is that of Protestant Pastor Alexis Padrón Lorenzo, who was detained in June and has since been held without communication. Known for his public criticism of Cuba’s communist system and advocacy for ordinary Cubans, Pastor Padrón Lorenzo was arrested on charges of “public disorder.”

There are concerns for his health following reports of physical abuse during interrogation, exacerbated by his existing condition of rheumatoid arthritis.

Anna Lee Stangl, CSW’s Director of Advocacy and Americas Team Leader, highlighted the ongoing plight, stating, “Five years since Cubans from all walks of life took to the streets to demand justice, human rights and democracy, their calls remain intentionally unheeded by the Cuban Communist Party, which instead remains intent on rejecting any idea of political or social reform even as Cuba grapples with an increasingly acute humanitarian crisis.”

She further urged, “We call on the international community to honour the bravery of Cubans across the island, including many religious leaders, who continue to speak publicly and honestly about the situation in the country by amplifying their voices and seeking creative and co-ordinated ways to support them.”