Mother Detained on Women's Day Paraded by Cuban Regime: "She Regrets Her Actions"

In a calculated move by the Cuban regime to rationalize its repression, Yudelkis Ortiz Barceló, the first secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party in Granma, showcased Mayelín Carrasco Álvarez on March 8th. Carrasco Álvarez, a mother detained for protesting in the public square of Río Cauto, Granma, was exhibited by Ortiz Barceló in a social media post.

Ortiz Barceló claimed that Carrasco Álvarez was "deeply regretful for her actions" and appeared alongside her in a seemingly relaxed pose, seated on armchairs with another woman gently resting her hands on Carrasco. The post did not disclose the location of this meeting.

The statement, released on International Women's Day, sparked outrage among activists and Cuban citizens. They viewed it as a governmental tactic to undermine Mayelín's protest and discredit the calls for her release by the community in Río Cauto.

Government's Response and Public Backlash

Ortiz Barceló asserted in her post that "Cuba is a state governed by law, requiring more obedience and respect for legal norms." She accused those highlighting the case of being "instigators" unconcerned about the detained mother.

The regime official argued that "demanding one or more rights does not necessitate actions that disrespect or disrupt the social norms established in the Republic's Constitution." She emphasized that other methods exist to voice such demands.

Ortiz Barceló focused on Carrasco Álvarez, describing her as the "Río Cauto mother who has been a pawn for the haters." She assured the public that Carrasco was "in good health and very regretful for her actions," noting that the consequences of her deeds primarily affected her loved ones, especially her children.

Continued Detention and Health Concerns

Despite claims of her well-being, Carrasco remains under the custody of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT). Concerns persist among her family and neighbors after reports surfaced that she fainted during an interrogation in Bayamo.

Human rights organizations have condemned such "exhibitions" of detainees, viewing them as coercive measures to publicly force retractions. The Cuban media, as seen in the case of 21-year-old Sulmira Martínez Pérez, frequently uses this strategy, featuring forced confessions on national television.

Ortiz's publication, made on a day celebrating women's rights globally, was met with widespread criticism. "In Cuba, being a woman is criminalized if you dare to speak out," one activist responded on social media. Meanwhile, support for Mayelín in Río Cauto persists, with ongoing calls for justice for the woman now emblematic of resistance against the nation's socioeconomic turmoil.

Detention and Protest in Río Cauto

On March 5th, Mayelín Carrasco Álvarez, a mother of three, was violently arrested in Río Cauto, Granma, following a peaceful protest in Ángel Frías Square against the shortages and crises plaguing her community.

Her detention ignited a wave of demonstrations from locals demanding her release, prompting the regime to deploy a heavy-handed response, including high-ranking officials from the MININT, National Revolutionary Police (PNR), and Black Berets forces.

Carrasco was later moved to a MININT facility in Bayamo. Allegations from those close to her claim she lost consciousness during an interrogation, heightening worries about her health and treatment while detained.

Repression and Public Display as a Control Tool

Human rights groups have long criticized the Cuban government's frequent use of public displays of "repentant" detainees as a means of societal control and intimidation. These so-called confessions often occur under duress, following threats or promises of leniency.

Mayelín Carrasco Álvarez's case underscores a recurring pattern within the Cuban regime: suppressing protests with force, isolating dissidents, and coercing them into public apologies to serve as warnings to others. While this strategy of presenting subdued dissenters is not new, it increasingly faces resistance from a populace that, amid the island's deepening crisis, seems to be shedding its fear.