Pastor Alexis Padrón Lorenzo Released After Three Months in Prison for Havana Protests

Alexis Padrón Lorenzo, a 58-year-old evangelical pastor in Havana, was released from prison after serving three months, according to the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (Ocdh). The Ocdh reported that Padrón had been detained since June 10 after expressing discontent with government officials over prolonged blackouts and water shortages in the Regla municipality of Havana. The specific conditions of his release remain unknown, and criminal proceedings opened against him are expected to continue.

Padrón leads the Communion Church in the Faith, a congregation belonging to the Brothers of the Faith of Rule denomination. He and his wife, Roselin Benitez Cruz, have served in Christian ministry for more than 23 years. In Regla, they founded a congregation of approximately 50 members that combines preaching with social work supporting vulnerable populations. The Alliance of Christians of Cuba has stated that it is accompanying his family during this period.

The incident began on the night of June 9, when Padrón participated in a neighborhood demonstration protesting the lack of electricity and water. Prisoners Defenders (PD), an organization that listed him among political prisoners on June 11, reported that Padrón was arrested after peacefully confronting officials who were attempting to disperse the demonstration. According to PD, Padrón told the officials that they should leave their posts if they could not govern.

Following the initial incident, PD reported that State Security agents and officials from the Ministry of the Interior followed Padrón to his home. The organization stated that these officials attempted to stop him and, when they could not, threatened him. After several summonses, Padrón went to the police unit in Regla, where he was arrested without a warrant. PD noted that he was held incommunicado for the first 72 hours of his detention.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a UK-based organization focused on religious freedom, stated that Padrón was arrested on charges of public disorder and subjected to physical ill-treatment during interrogations. CSW reported that his family rejected these allegations. Separately, the legal organization Cubalex registered a pattern of harassment against at least four evangelical pastors during that month. Padrón was initially held in the detention center known as El Vivac, located in the municipality of Boyeros.

The Ocdh has demanded that peaceful protest not be criminalized, highlighting the tension between civic expression and state enforcement in this case. The situation underscores the broader context of institutional accountability and the protection of religious leaders who engage in public advocacy. As Micah 6:8 calls for justice and humility before the Lord, the community’s response to such legal proceedings reflects the pursuit of public truth and the care for those who serve their neighbors in times of hardship.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)