According to Prisoners Defenders (PD), the number of political prisoners in Cuba has decreased. This follows the suicide of one inmate, the forced exile of another, and the completion of sentences for 13 individuals.
PD shared these findings on social media platform X, noting that there are now 1,105 political prisoners as of their updated August report, which also includes two new detainees. The organization highlighted that 62 of these prisoners have clinically diagnosed mental health disorders, 329 suffer from severe health conditions that pose life-threatening risks, and 117 women are incarcerated under discriminatory and abusive conditions.
Abusive Conditions for Female Inmates
The detained women face various forms of abuse, including physical and psychological violence, as well as medical neglect. Such treatment severely impacts their physical and emotional well-being, according to PD's website.
Common Torture Practices
PD reports that the denial of food, lack of medical care, and withholding of medication are common methods of torture used against political and conscience prisoners in Cuba.
Recent Arrests Highlight Human Rights Concerns
During the protests on March 17 and 18, the Cuban regime arrested 32 demonstrators, with 13 of these detentions occurring in the province of Holguín. These incidents underscore the ongoing and troubling state of human rights in the country.