Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara fasting in protest against political imprisonment in Cuba

"Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is imprisoned for standing up for the basic right to freedom of speech through art. We call for the immediate release of him, and all other political prisoners in Cuba", says Jostein Hole Kobbeltvedt, Executive Director of the Rafto Foundation for Human Rights. 

Cuba is currently going through an economic, humanitarian, demographic, and ultimately political crisis. Suffering from high inflation, loss of confidence in the local currency, and a shrinking economy, citizens must endure increasing electricity failures, fuels shortages, lack of food and medicine. The number of emigrants since the end of covid is estimated to be between 2.5 and 3 million, about 20 % of the population.

In this dire situation, the regime has responded to the growing desperation of ordinary citizens with harsh repression of anyone who use their freedom of speech to voice critical views of the government or advocate for political change which would bring more freedom and a better life for Cubans. According to Prisoners Defenders around 1.190 political prisoners are incarcerated by the Cuban regime as of 4 December 2025. Among them are Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, incarcerated since 2021 for five years in a high security prison after conviction for “contempt”, “public disorder”, and “insulting national symbols”.

According to Human Rights watch, political prisoners released in 2025 report being beaten, forced to sit in stress positions, placed in solitary confinement, or in overcrowded cells, with unhealthy and unhygienic conditions, inadequate access to food and water, and exposed to outbreaks of scabies, tuberculosis, dengue fever, and Covid-19 which was left untreated. Alcántara is among those who had to endure illnesses and had to rely on medication provided by visiting family.

The legal persecution of political dissidents in Cuba violates all norms of proper procedure. Vague accusations constraining legitimate freedom of speech are judged by courts without independence from political authorities, in proceedings closed for the public and without proper legal defense. These characteristics of the process against Alcántara were also confirmed in the Opinion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

"The only hope for a better future for Cubans rest in the recognition of the fundamental rights of all citizens, the inclusions and encouragement of their freedom to reorganize their society for the benefit of all. Do not forget Cuba", says Hole Kobbeltvedt. 

The only hope for a better future for Cubans rest in the recognition of the fundamental rights of all citizens, the inclusions and encouragement of their freedom to reorganize their society for the benefit of all. While there is global attention paid to US military intervention into Venezuelan waters and airspace, and the upcoming presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader USA to María Corina Machado, do not forget Cuba.