Sissi Abascal, the youngest member of the Ladies in White in Cuba, shared a personal account of her forced departure from the island. Rather than taking her home after her release, Cuban authorities directly escorted her to the airport, setting her on a path to permanent exile.
"I left my house on what seemed like an ordinary day, never suspecting that morning would mark the last time I would see the place where I built my life," the 27-year-old activist wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
Abascal was arrested in November 2021 in the Carlos Rojas community of Jovellanos, Matanzas, due to her involvement in the July 11 protests, which were the largest public demonstrations in Cuba for decades.
A Harsh Sentence and Injustice
The Jovellanos Municipal Court sentenced her to six years in prison for contempt, assault, and public disorder. She began serving her sentence at the La Bellotex women's prison in Matanzas.
"It was more than four years of imprisonment. Over one thousand four hundred days filled with uncertainty and an unjust confinement meant to silence my voice," she recounted in her post.
In August 2025, she underwent emergency surgery for bartolinitis without any notification to her family. Earlier that year, the regime had formally denied her request for parole.
Exile as a Condition for Release
Her release in May 2026 was orchestrated by the Legal Rescue Foundation through a humanitarian visa from the U.S. Department of State. However, the regime demanded that her mother, Annia Zamora—also a Lady in White—leave Cuba first.
"They told me my mom had to leave Cuba first. If she didn't, they wouldn't allow me to leave," Abascal said upon arriving in Miami on May 14, 2026.
The organization Cubalex labeled this departure as "freedom conditioned upon exile": the regime chose to expel her from Cuba instead of acknowledging her innocence or granting her any prison benefits.
The Pain of Leaving Home
In her Tuesday post, Abascal vividly described the moment: "When my sentence ended, there was no homecoming. I was taken straight to the airport, condemned to a forced exile with no right to ever return to the land where I was born."
The only solace was the presence of her family, who accompanied her in leaving the country.
"I couldn't say goodbye to my neighbors, walk my streets one last time, or embrace those who stayed behind," she wrote.
Her father, Armando Abascal, chose to remain on the island with another son.
Continuing the Fight from Abroad
From exile, the activist continues to demand freedom for those still imprisoned.
"I carry in my heart the stifled cries of a people yearning to breathe without fear and the unwavering demand for freedom for all political prisoners still suffering in those cells," she expressed in her post.
Abascal's story emerges as Cuba reports a record 1,339 political prisoners, according to a recent Prisoners Defenders report released earlier this month.
"Though I have been torn from my homeland, my faith remains unshaken: I dream and continue to hope for the day when my country will finally be free," Abascal concluded her message.
Questions About Sissi Abascal's Exile
Why was Sissi Abascal arrested in 2021?
Sissi Abascal was arrested for her involvement in the July 11 protests, which were the largest public demonstrations in Cuba in decades.
What conditions were placed on Sissi Abascal's release?
Her release was conditioned upon her mother leaving Cuba first, as demanded by the Cuban regime.
How is Sissi Abascal continuing her activism from exile?
From exile, Sissi Abascal continues to advocate for the freedom of political prisoners in Cuba and remains vocal about the need for change in her homeland.