The Cuban Prison Documentation Center has verified the death of political prisoner Yoleisy Oviedo Rodríguez, who passed away on the morning of February 11 at the El Guatao Forced Labor Camp in Havana. The specific cause of her death remains undisclosed, but several reports suggest she had been suffering from health issues for months without receiving necessary medical care.
At 44 years old, Oviedo Rodríguez, a mother of two, was incarcerated following her participation in a peaceful protest on October 10, 2022, in the municipality of Güines, Mayabeque province, against extended power outages affecting residents. On November 20, 2023, she was sentenced to five years in prison.
Authorities Initially Withhold Her Body from Family
Activist Marcel Valdés reported that prison officials initially refused to release her body to her family. Her son promptly went to the prison for information and was told the body would be handed over at 7 PM the previous day. Nearly 24 hours later, Oviedo Rodríguez's remains were taken under heavy guard to the funeral home at Calzada and K in Havana.
Yoleisy's death has sparked outrage among Cuban activists and dissidents, who believe she was a victim of a systematic government strategy to break political prisoners. "Deaths in Cuban prisons are becoming increasingly common, a reflection of a penal system where inmates face mistreatment, severe malnutrition, and untreated diseases, lacking justice or the basic conditions to survive," warned Cubalex.
"We express our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Yoleisy Oviedo Rodríguez. Her name will not be forgotten. We will continue to denounce human rights violations in Cuba," they added.
Inhumane Conditions for Political Prisoners
Activists and human rights organizations have condemned the inhumane conditions in Cuban prisons, particularly for political detainees who are routinely subjected to torture, starvation, and medical neglect. Yoleisy Oviedo Rodríguez's case adds to a growing list of political or common prisoners who have died under the regime's custody, several of whom perished in recent months.
This week, two Cuban inmates died in Boniato Prison, Santiago de Cuba, allegedly due to extreme malnutrition and neglect, according to human rights advocacy groups. Last year, Cubalex, which specializes in monitoring human rights in Cuba and providing free legal assistance on the island, released a report on repression in the country during the first half of 2024, reporting 26 deaths in custody.
Understanding the Crisis in Cuban Prisons
What led to Yoleisy Oviedo Rodríguez's imprisonment?
Yoleisy Oviedo Rodríguez was arrested for participating in a peaceful protest against prolonged power outages in Güines, Mayabeque province, on October 10, 2022.
What has been the international reaction to her death?
Her death has outraged activists and opposition groups who see it as part of a broader pattern of mistreatment and neglect of political prisoners in Cuba.
How are the conditions in Cuban prisons described by human rights groups?
Human rights organizations describe Cuban prisons as having inhumane conditions, with prisoners facing torture, starvation, and a lack of medical care.