In the early hours of Thursday, a deafening uproar of screams, metallic clashes, and chants against the regime shattered the silence at Canaleta, a high-security prison in Ciego de Ávila, Cuba.
Inside the prison, audio recordings began to circulate, capturing inmates shouting “Freedom,” “Homeland and Life,” and “Down with Díaz-Canel,” as they condemned the abuses and harsh survival conditions they face.
The news agency EFE confirmed the uprising through reports from NGOs Prisoners Defenders and the Cuban Prisons Documentation Center (CDPC).
A prisoner’s testimony, provided to the agency, described how police forces arrived to reinforce the prison's security, employing “rubber bullets,” “pepper spray,” and physical violence to quell the protest.
This testimony highlighted that the uprising was sparked by “hunger” and “mistreatment,” along with widespread discontent with the Cuban government.
On social media, Prisoners Defenders issued a warning: “Uprising in Canaleta prison, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba. Inmates have risen, demanding freedom for Cuba.”
The NGO indicated that there were unconfirmed reports of deaths during the crackdown, although such claims have yet to be verified independently.
Family Blocked and Reports of Possible Fatalities
In a recent report, Armando Labrador, leader of Cuba Primero, highlighted another episode of repression surrounding the prison.
Under the headline “URGENT | CASTRO REGIME BLOCKS FAMILIES OF INMATES IN CANALETA PRISON, CIEGO DE ÁVILA,” his organization claimed that authorities prevented families from approaching the prison entrance.
The report stated that security forces have “detained and concentrated” relatives on the highway encircling the prison, under heavy police presence.
An activist from the movement described the scene: “They have the families concentrated on the highway with a strong police blockade,” warning of increased repression and information blackout in the area.
Ambulances were seen entering and exiting the provincial prison 'Canaleta' in Ciego de Ávila, with reports of injuries. José Daniel Ferrer reported on X about potential fatalities, though unconfirmed, urging for no loss of life due to what he termed the brutal repression by the Castro-communist tyranny.
Simultaneously, Prisoners Defenders preliminarily reported that potentially “at least 10 inmates may have been killed by anti-riot forces from the Ministry of the Interior’s Penitentiary Establishments Directorate,” a figure they emphasized is subject to independent verification.
These allegations have sparked significant concern among families and activists, fearing a massacre within the prison amid the Cuban authorities' complete silence.
Inside Accounts Fuel Concerns
Hours earlier, Armando Labrador had asserted that “political prisoners from the Cuba Primero Movement and also common inmates” were leading the protest inside the prison, including a pot-banging demonstration as a sign of defiance against the regime.
According to audios sent to his organization, loud shouts could be heard from within the prison, with slogans like: ‘Freedom’, ‘Homeland and Life’, and ‘Down with Díaz-Canel’, highlighting the growing desperation, outrage, and resistance even within the regime's prisons.
Former political prisoner and UNPACU leader, José Daniel Ferrer, echoed the reports of the riot on his Facebook page.
“URGENT! Riot troops, gunfire, the protest by political and common prisoners continues with shouts of Homeland and Life,” he wrote.
In one of the shared videos, an inmate claimed that a young man named Daniel “was found hanged after a beating by the guards,” casting doubt on whether it was suicide.
This allegation has yet to be independently verified.
Ferrer explained that prisoners protested against “extreme hunger, abuse, beatings, water shortages, and poor hygiene,” depicting the prison as “a sort of extermination camp, as are most or all prisons in Cuba.”
According to his account, inmates allegedly barricaded the prison doors, forcing officials to bring in “welding and metal-cutting equipment to open the door.”
He admitted uncertainty about subsequent events: “We don’t know what happened afterward, whether they were beaten, are being beaten, or if they might end up killing some of those who organized or participated in this protest.”
Spotlight on Prison Conditions
The uprising has once again highlighted the dire conditions within Cuban prisons.
The CDPC, based in Mexico and specializing in monitoring Cuba’s prison system, has repeatedly reported cases of deaths due to negligence, mistreatment, health issues, and punitive measures.
Between March 2024 and March 2025, the organization recorded at least 60 deaths in Cuban prisons. Of these, 47 were related to physical and mental health problems and lack of timely medical care, while seven were linked to direct physical violence.
During the same period, the CDPC documented 1,330 human rights violations against incarcerated individuals, including 1,045 cases of harassment and repression, 402 of denial of medical care, 297 related to inadequate living conditions, and 224 linked to food deficiencies.
The NGO has also condemned the persistent use of “prolonged isolation,” “punitive transfers,” and “forced labor without pay or under threats.”
Moreover, it has criticized torture methods such as “the Turkish bed,” “the bicycle,” and the use of “shakiras,” shackles that completely immobilize prisoners.
Specifically, the CDPC has pointed out overcrowding, poor sanitation, inadequate food quality and quantity, precarious medical care, internal corruption, and repression against politically motivated prisoners at Canaleta prison.
Meanwhile, Prisoners Defenders, based in Madrid, has documented 1,207 political prisoners in Cuba to date.
As of now, Cuban authorities have not released any official information regarding the incidents at Canaleta prison. Families remain anxiously awaiting news, while independent organizations strive to verify claims that, if confirmed, could unveil one of the most severe episodes recently occurring within Cuba’s penal system.
Key Questions About Canaleta Prison Uprising
What triggered the prison riot at Canaleta?
The riot was reportedly triggered by extreme hunger, mistreatment, and widespread dissatisfaction with the Cuban government.
How have authorities responded to the uprising?
Authorities reportedly responded with reinforcement of police forces using rubber bullets, pepper spray, and physical violence to suppress the protest.