Political prisoners Felix Navarro and his daughter Saylí Navarro have firmly rejected an offer to leave Cuba, following a visit from the Auxiliary Bishop of Havana to their respective prisons. This proposal, aimed at offering them exile as a solution, was reported by Martí Noticias on Wednesday.
The information was confirmed by Sonia Álvarez Campillo, Felix's wife and Saylí's mother, through an audio message.
"Last Tuesday, the Auxiliary Bishop of Havana and President of the National Prison Pastoral, Eloy Ricardo Domínguez Martínez, visited Agüica prison with the intention of inviting Felix to leave the country," she stated.
Following his visit to Agüica, the bishop proceeded to La Bellotex women's prison, where Saylí is serving her sentence, to present the same offer.
“You already know Felix and Saylí's response; they will not leave the country," Álvarez Campillo emphasized.
The bishop also voiced concern over the severe beating Felix Navarro endured on April 10, inflicted by Officer Yoslen Pedroso Sotolongo, head of Agüica's search team. After the assault, Felix was placed in solitary confinement.
This ecclesiastical visit comes amid a severe decline in the health of the 72-year-old opposition figure, who suffers from diabetes and respiratory issues. His family has repeatedly denounced the denial of adequate medical care in prison.
Saylí, a member of the Ladies in White, went over 137 days without seeing her father, despite having the right to a visit every 45 days. The regime allowed a meeting between them on April 18, just days before the bishop's visit.
Political prisoner Iván Hernández Carrillo, a member of the Black Spring of 2003 who also rejected exile in 2011, issued an urgent appeal to church authorities.
"To intervene for the health, life, and freedom of these political prisoners and all Cuban political prisoners," he urged.
Father and daughter's stance is not new. Felix Navarro declined exile in 2011 after serving eight of the 25 years he was sentenced to during the Black Spring as part of the "Group of 75."
The Supreme Court revoked his parole on April 29, 2025, just months after his release for health reasons following negotiations with the Vatican.
Both were sentenced for their involvement in the July 11, 2021, protests: Felix to nine years and Saylí to eight. Amnesty International declared them prisoners of conscience in October 2024.
Hernández Carrillo further urged the Church to demand the immediate release of the Navarros and the cessation of "constant abuses, punishments, and mistreatment" of those imprisoned for ideological reasons, amid increasing international pressure on Havana to free its political prisoners.
Felix and Saylí Navarro's Rejection of Exile and Human Rights Concerns
Why did Felix and Saylí Navarro refuse exile?
Felix and Saylí Navarro declined the offer to leave Cuba as they are committed to their cause and refuse to abandon their homeland despite the hardships they face.
What health issues is Felix Navarro facing?
Felix Navarro is dealing with diabetes and respiratory problems, and his health has significantly deteriorated due to a lack of proper medical care in prison.
Who is advocating for the Navarros' release?
Iván Hernández Carrillo, another political prisoner, is calling for the Church and international community to advocate for the Navarros' release and the end of ideological persecution in Cuba.