On Thursday, opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer made an urgent appeal to President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take immediate action regarding the dire situation of Cuban political prisoner Roilán Álvarez Rensoler. After 50 days on a hunger strike, Álvarez Rensoler suffered a cardiac arrest.
Ferrer raised the alarm on Facebook, reporting that Álvarez Rensoler had to be revived using a defibrillator and cautioned that his life is in imminent danger. "He could die at any moment," Ferrer stated, sharing information provided by the prisoner's family.
According to his social media posts, the activist's condition has become extremely critical due to the prolonged hunger strike. "His sister, Arianna Álvarez, just informed me," Ferrer noted, while also reaching out for assistance from international organizations and prominent figures such as the United Nations and Pope Leon XIV, in addition to Trump and Rubio.
Reports from the Cuba Decide platform previously indicated that Álvarez Rensoler was already hospitalized and under guard in Holguín, with his health rapidly deteriorating, as observed by his family.
An active member of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (Unpacu) and a promoter of Cuba Decide, Álvarez Rensoler began his hunger strike to protest what he deems an arbitrary arrest, which occurred on January 30 during protest activities.
Human rights organizations have warned about the extreme risk to his life and have demanded immediate assurances for his medical care, while condemning the lack of transparency from authorities regarding his condition.
The case has sparked alarm among activists, who highlight ongoing patterns of repression against dissidents in Cuba, including the physical decline of detainees and restricted access to information for their families.
The severity of the situation reignites fears due to past incidents of political prisoners dying from hunger strikes on the island.
Key Questions on Cuban Political Prisoner Crisis
What is the current condition of Roilán Álvarez Rensoler?
Roilán Álvarez Rensoler is in a critically serious state after suffering a cardiac arrest due to a prolonged hunger strike.
Why did José Daniel Ferrer reach out to Donald Trump and Marco Rubio?
Ferrer appealed to Trump and Rubio for urgent intervention to address the life-threatening condition of Álvarez Rensoler, highlighting the need for international pressure on Cuban authorities.
What are human rights organizations demanding?
These organizations demand immediate guarantees for Álvarez Rensoler's medical care and criticize the lack of transparency from Cuban authorities about his health status.