Cuban activist Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente, widely recognized as Anna Bensi, revealed on Monday that court officials visited her home to inform her that the criminal case against her and her mother, Caridad Silvente, has been reopened. This development comes just days after Bensi endured yet another wave of harassment from the regime.
"They came from the court to my house. The case that was closed on April 13 has been reopened. The 'offended' officer supposedly filed the complaint. Now my mom and I are back under the same legal proceedings," Bensi stated on Facebook, alongside an image with the word "REPRESSION."
The complaint was initiated by Yoel Leodán Rabaza Ramos, a sub-officer of the MININT, whose actions in March 2026 triggered the entire situation. Mother and daughter recorded him delivering an irregular summons at their home and shared the footage on social media.
Authorities charged them under Article 393 of the Penal Code for "acts against personal and family privacy," a crime punishable by two to five years in prison. The case was initially dismissed after defense attorney Roberto Ortega Ortiz argued that such a crime could only be pursued through a direct complaint by the offended party, not via a police report. However, with the complaint now filed by the officer himself, that procedural argument is nullified, and the legal process is revived.
Recent Tensions with the Regime
This development comes just two days after Anna Bensi was released in tears following nearly 11 hours of detention at the Alamar National Revolutionary Police Station. She described it as an attempt by the regime to prevent her attendance at the U.S. Independence Day celebration at the residence of Mike Hammer, the chargé d'affaires of the U.S. Embassy, where she was specially invited to play the Cuban national anthem on the piano. She was released at nine o'clock in the evening, making it impossible for her to attend the event.
"They released me at nine at night, as if saying they're sure I won't be able to go. A total injustice," declared the activist.
During the interrogation, a PNR instructor directly threatened her: "In your videos, you've been inciting, and if that incitement materializes, you're committing a crime, and we're going to imprison you." Bensi documented her stance in writing.
Summarizing the interrogation, she was unequivocal: "In the end, the interrogation can be summed up as 'shut up or create a different type of content.'"
Freedom of Expression Under Threat
Since March 25, 2026, Anna Bensi and her mother have been under house arrest with a travel ban. The organization Cubalex has asserted that recording public officials in the course of their duties is not a crime but rather a citizen's right, protected by the Cuban Constitution of 2019. This argument has attracted international media attention, including from the Spanish newspaper El Mundo.
During the July 4th celebration, Hammer publicly denounced the enforced absences of Bensi, Yoani Sánchez, and members of Fuera de la Caja, labeling the situation as "unacceptable."
The activist's mother, undeterred, summed up their resolve following the detention: "I feel more empowered to continue this. This clearly demonstrates that they are a dictatorship, a regime that seeks to overshadow, that tries to silence the truth."
Legal and Social Implications of the Reopened Case
What charges are Anna Bensi and her mother facing?
They are charged under Article 393 of the Penal Code for "acts against personal and family privacy," which carries a penalty of two to five years in prison.
Why was the case against them reopened?
The case was reopened because the officer involved, Yoel Leodán Rabaza Ramos, filed a direct complaint, overcoming the previous procedural argument that required a complaint from the offended party.
What actions led to the legal proceedings against Bensi and her mother?
They recorded an officer delivering an irregular summons at their home and shared the video online, leading to charges of violating privacy laws.
How has the international community reacted to their case?
International media and figures like Mike Hammer have publicly criticized the situation, highlighting it as an example of repression and calling it "unacceptable."