Cuban Pastor Arrested After Protesting in Front of Capitol Remains Incommunicado Without Charge

The Pentecostal pastor Ariel Limias Leiva, 53, was arrested on Friday after protesting in front of Havana’s Capitol with a sign reading “Down with the Dictatorship” and “No more absurd political discrimination.” His wife, Yulia Morales Zamora, reported that Limias remained incommunicado as of Sunday, held at Villa Marista, the headquarters of State Security, without his family having been informed of the charges against him. Morales stated that she and Limias’ mother and brother visited Villa Marista on Saturday to bring him toiletries and inquire about his condition. The case instructor told them that Limias was “still under investigation” and that the charges would be communicated to the family once formalized.

The family has not been allowed to see Limias, despite a scheduled visit for Friday, October 9. Morales said the official overseeing his case confirmed that Limias was well and had received his medications, though the family has not been able to verify his condition personally. Limias, a member of the Pentecostal Church linked to the Assembly of God, was arrested by four police officers shortly after arriving at the Capitol. Video footage shows him without resistance as he was handcuffed and taken to a patrol vehicle. During the arrest, he shouted, “Down with the dictatorship.”

Limias had previously protested in 2021, when he was also detained. Morales noted that her husband often expressed a sense of duty to his country, telling her before each protest, “Someone has to do it for our country.” She linked his decision to protest to the deteriorating living conditions of their neighbors and the lack of freedoms in Cuba. “It is a horror to see so precarious, so much need, so much hunger,” she said.

Neighbors interviewed by CubaNet described Limias’ protest as the reaction of “one more Cuban who suffocated and went out to the streets to claim his rights.” The Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and Press (ICLEP) raised concerns about the detention, highlighting that walking with a poster and expressing political opinions publicly are protected freedoms. The organization questioned the legality of the arrest, emphasizing the need for transparency and due process.

The incident underscores the tension between individual expression and state control in Cuba, with many citizens struggling to voice their concerns without facing repercussions. As the investigation continues, the family awaits clarity on the charges and the pastor’s condition. The case reflects broader challenges faced by those who seek to advocate for change within a system that often suppresses dissent. Proverbs 31:8-9 calls for defending the rights of the oppressed, a principle that remains relevant in the pursuit of justice and accountability.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)