The Cuban government has released Adel de la Torre Hernández, a rescuer involved in the search for survivors after the explosion at the Saratoga Hotel in Havana. He had been sentenced to seven years in prison, accused of participating in the July 11 protests. Activist Salomé García Bacallao shared a photo on Facebook of the young man leaving prison, highlighting his mental health struggles that nearly led to multiple suicide attempts while incarcerated.
"None of this prompted his jailers to grant him the parole he desperately needed," she emphasized. Adel suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and had been hospitalized several times before 2021. In prison, he was part of the "suicide group" as he also tried to take his life there.
Arrest and Inhumane Detention
Adel was apprehended on July 11 near Virgen del Camino and taken to the "Jóvenes del Cotorro" detention center. He remained there for 10 days, including seven days of enforced disappearance, before being transferred to another prison. During this time, he was brutally beaten by authorities and contracted COVID.
Almost two months later, he was released on bail pending his trial on September 2, 2022. During this period, he received psychiatric treatment at home and in hospitals. "He tried to commit suicide several times because he says they beat him severely to confess to something he didn't do," his mother, Anayl Hernández Collado, told CiberCuba.
Revocation of Bail and Return to Prison
On October 17, 2022, Adel's bail was revoked, and he was sent back to Valle Grande prison, without the chance to await his appeal process at home. The authorities also overlooked the lives he saved as a paramedic, particularly during the Saratoga incidents.
His re-arrest took place at the Arroyo Naranjo Municipal Court when he went to pick up the verdict. Upon arrival, a police car was waiting for him. "They took him away in handcuffs like a criminal, a murderer. They didn't let me approach the police car or give him a kiss," his mother recounted.
Impact of Political Imprisonment in Cuba
What led to Adel de la Torre Hernández's imprisonment?
Adel de la Torre Hernández was imprisoned for allegedly participating in the July 11 protests in Cuba, despite his critical role as a rescuer in the Saratoga Hotel explosion.
What mental health challenges has Adel faced?
Adel suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, which led to multiple suicide attempts during his incarceration, highlighting the harsh conditions he endured.
How did Adel's arrest occur?
Adel was re-arrested at the Arroyo Naranjo Municipal Court while collecting his verdict, where a police car awaited to take him into custody.