On Tuesday (29), Cuba again arrested the opponent and human rights activist José Daniel Ferrer for “violating the terms of his parole” just three months after leaving prison.
The action was part of a broader agreement mediated in January by the Vatican with the Biden government, which aimed to release more than 500 prisoners in the country if the US removed Cuba from a list of terrorism.
Trump, when he took office, turned back with the deal, putting Cuba again on the list, which led government to temporarily suspend the release of the detainees.
Ferrer did not attend two compulsory court hearings, a violation of the Cuban law and the conditions of his release, said Maricela Sosa, vice president of the Supreme Popular Court of Cuba.
“Not only did he not attend, he also announced on his social networking profile, in the act of contempt and breach of the law, which would not attend the judicial authority,” Sosa told Reuters in a statement that was also released on Tuesday (29).
Joseph’s sister Ana Belkis Ferrer said on social networks that her brother had been detained by police in the morning, as well as his wife, Nelva, his son and several other activists.
“We demand its immediate release and that of all detainees and political prisoners,” said Ana Belkis on X.
Soy Ana Belkis Ferrer Garcia.
I have just confirmed there that in the mañana of this martes on April 29 del 2025, representative fuerzas de la dictatura Castro Canel communist asaltaron there main headquarters of unpacu en divides altamira, la saquearon completely y if… pic.twitter.com/5yebsfqcly– José Daniel Ferrer (@jdanielferrer) April 29, 2025
José Daniel Ferrer, who lives in Santiago de Cuba, said he was unjustly arrested by the Cuban authorities and that his presence in any judicial hearing was unnecessary.
Maricela Sosa told Reuters that the court also arrested Felix Navarro, another prominent opponent of Matanzas, Cuba municipality, sentenced to nine years in prison after ancient protests in July 2021.
Sosa stated that Navarro, released in January, violated the terms of his conditional freedom by leaving the municipality where he resides without first seeking authorization from a judge.
“Although they are not part of this process, besides breaking the terms of their parole, (Ferrer and Navarro) are people who publicly incite disorder and disrespect for authorities in their social and online environments, and maintain public ties with the head of the United States embassy,” said Sosa.
The vice president of Cuba’s Supreme Popular Court also stated that the decision to arrest the two men “was not directly related to these behaviors,” but that a deeper investigation would be carried out soon.
Ferrer threats, according to Cuba
José Daniel Ferrer, 54, founded an opposition group called the National Patriotic Union, or “Unpacu” in 2011. He is among the last remaining and most visible dissidents of the communist island.
Ferrer began operating a community cafeteria at his home in Santiago de Cuba after his release in January. He claimed that the government was harassing his family and team, making him impossible to provide food to the poor.
Cuba has long accused the United States of funding Ferrer’s dissent in an attempt to overthrow the island government.
US mission chief Mike Hammer visited Ferrer in February at his home in Santiago.
US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce called for the immediate release of Ferrer and Navarro on Tuesday.
“We vehemently condemn brutal treatment and unjust arrest of Cuban patriots José Daniel Ferrer, his wife and small son, as well as Felix Navarro and other pro-democracy activists,” Bruce told reporters at a regular press conference.
This content was originally published in an opponent is arrested in Cuba three months after liberation traded with Vatican on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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