Maykel Osorbo Faces Harsh Disciplinary Action in Prison for "Spreading False News" on Social Media

The Cuban rapper and political prisoner, Maykel "Osorbo" Castillo Pérez, has been subjected to severe disciplinary action at Kilo 5 and Medio Prison in Pinar del Río. This measure is allegedly due to "spreading false news" on social media, as reported by the Maykel Osorbo 349 Facebook page.

The Facebook post reveals that the punishment was ordered by Captain Pedro, a prison official, in retaliation for consistent reports by the page's administrators about prison abuses, acts of violence, and human rights violations. "Under superior orders, Captain Pedro imposed a severe disciplinary measure on Maykel Castillo Pérez (Maykel Osorbo) for 'spreading false news'," the post states.

This sanction is a response to previous allegations shared on this page and through all of Maykel's and his friends' social networks," it adds. The latest update on his status thanks those who continue to follow and share information about the rapper's case. "Besides being a political prisoner, he is an artist, and as such, he owes it to his audience. We are his voice, and he trusts us," it says. At the end of a call with Maykel, he reiterated his unwavering stance: "I am my own democratic support."

The complaint about this disciplinary action against Maykel Osorbo comes amid rising tension over the situation of political prisoners in Cuba. In December last year, Osorbo expressed skepticism about the release of 192 inmates as part of an agreement with the United States and the Vatican, stating he remains focused on serving his sentence until 2030. In a conversation with journalist Carlos Manuel Álvarez, he declared: "If I think about anything else, I go crazy."

As one of the co-authors of the protest anthem "Patria y Vida," the artist was sentenced in June 2022 to nine years in prison for alleged crimes of assault, resistance, disrespect, and public disorder. Since then, he has faced mistreatment, beatings, and isolation in prison. In April 2024, he suffered a physical assault that nearly resulted in the loss of an ear, and in August of the same year, he reportedly fell ill, yet prison authorities did not provide him with adequate medical care.

International organizations, including Amnesty International, have declared Osorbo a prisoner of conscience and demanded his immediate release. His case has been repeatedly highlighted in denunciations concerning the repression of Cuban artists and activists.

This disciplinary measure adds to a series of retaliations against Osorbo within the prison. In November 2024, he sent a letter from his cell, reaffirming his commitment to the struggle for freedom in Cuba. In his letter, he described his imprisonment as a test of resilience and emphasized that he will continue to uphold his principles without negotiating with the regime.

Osorbo's imprisonment has been widely condemned by the artistic and human rights communities both inside and outside of Cuba. During his time in prison, he has continued to compose music and send messages to his followers, who keep his cause alive on social media using the hashtags #FreeMaykelOsorbo and #PatriaYVida.

The plight of Maykel Osorbo remains a stark example of the systematic harassment against dissidents on the island, and his case continues to draw international concern.