Cuban historian and professor Alina Bárbara López Hernández reported a nearly ten-hour detention by the National Revolutionary Police in Playa, Matanzas, on Saturday. She was stopped while trying to carry out her monthly civic protest.
In a Facebook post, López shared that she was held in the station's meeting room from 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
She described the room as filled with images of leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, whom she accused of lying during a recent NBC interview where he claimed no one in Cuba is arrested for government criticism.
The activist noted she was watched by two officers, one of whom had her 10-year-old daughter with her, seemingly due to a lack of childcare options.
To avoid frightening the child, López refrained from loud protests during the early hours of her detention.
During this time, she read a novel from Matanzas writer Carlos Zamora Rodríguez, which she had brought along with snacks, suspecting she might be detained.
Later, she was taken to an office to meet with an Interior Ministry instructor, leading to a tense discussion.
Government's Denial of Political Prisoners
According to López, the official claimed there are no political prisoners in Cuba, asserting that those arrested after the July 11, 2021 protests committed regular crimes.
López countered these claims, accusing the instructor of lying and repeatedly shouting, “Freedom for political prisoners.”
Violation of House Arrest Allegations
The officer alleged that López's detention was due to her breaching house arrest conditions. The instructor also threatened to "adjust" this measure.
López argued that her legal case has stalled for nearly a year in the Matanzas Municipal Court, viewing it as a tactic to indefinitely keep her and sociologist Jenny Pantoja Torres under house arrest.
She pledged to continue defying these restrictions, deeming them a “judicial farce” that infringes upon her civil rights.
Upon release, she again chanted slogans like “Freedom for political prisoners,” “Down with the dictatorship,” and “Amnesty now.”
Ongoing Harassment and Activism
This detention is part of ongoing harassment against López. Since March 2023, she has held peaceful protests every 18th of the month at Matanzas' Liberty Park, demanding amnesty for political prisoners, a constitutional assembly, and an end to repression.
Under house arrest since June 18, 2024, after being charged with “assault” alongside Pantoja Torres, the prosecution is seeking a four-year prison sentence.
The trial, initially set for January 30, 2026, in the Matanzas Municipal People's Court, was postponed indefinitely by Judge Ysenia Rodríguez Vázquez citing a judicial reorganization, with no new date announced.
López also recounted her April 18, 2024 arrest, where she was beaten and tortured in a patrol car at the Bacunayagua checkpoint, a complaint she filed with the Matanzas Military Prosecutor's Office, which, she claims, has taken no action against those responsible.
Frequently Asked Questions About Political Detentions in Cuba
What led to Alina Bárbara López's detention?
Alina Bárbara López was detained for nearly ten hours while attempting to carry out her monthly civic protest, allegedly violating house arrest conditions.
What claims did the Cuban government make regarding political prisoners?
The Cuban government denies the existence of political prisoners, asserting that those jailed after the July 11, 2021 protests committed common crimes.
How has Alina Bárbara López responded to her detention and charges?
López continues to defy her house arrest, considering it illegitimate and a violation of her civil rights, and she has been vocal in demanding freedom for political prisoners.