Cuban philosopher and activist Alina Bárbara López Hernández has publicly condemned the preventive detention of journalist Henry Constantin Ferreiro, who serves as director of the independent magazine La Hora de Cuba.
On her Facebook page, López Hernández shared the habeas corpus document filed on behalf of Constantin, stating, "They keep opening new fronts without closing any. A monumental mistake. State of terror or terror of the state?"
Constantin was apprehended on September 16 in Camagüey by a penal instructor named Juan Pablo, accused of alleged "disobedience." Authorities claim the journalist did not comply with a summons scheduled for September 9 at the Directorate of Identification, Immigration, and Foreigners.
Legal Challenges and Human Rights Concerns
He has remained detained at Villa María Luisa, a hub for State Security operations in the Garrido district of Camagüey, since his arrest. On September 21, attorney Luis Orlando Bermúdez Basulto submitted a habeas corpus petition to the Provincial People's Court of Camagüey, citing Article 96 of the Cuban Constitution and Article 789 of Law 143/2021 of the Criminal Procedure.
That same day, instructor Juan Pablo informed the defense that the preventive detention had already been approved and the case file would be forwarded to the Provincial Prosecutor's Office.
Political Motivations Behind the Detention?
The document signed by Bermúdez Basulto is firm in its stance: "With no reasonable evidence or proof known to family or friends to support such accusations, we believe this detention is politically motivated, as the person in question is the director of the independent journalistic magazine La Hora de Cuba."
The defense also reports being denied access to the case file both at Villa María Luisa and the Provincial Prosecutor's Office, preventing them from understanding the basis of the charges or filing a formal appeal.
Escalating Repression and International Reactions
This year, the regime has intensified its repressive actions against Constantin: he was arrested three times in less than 12 days in January, spending 44 hours incommunicado in Havana. In July, authorities warned him of arrest if he attended an event at the U.S. embassy.
The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) has condemned Constantin's latest detention. Its president, Pierre Manigault, labeled it as a "new and severe episode of harassment against independent press in Cuba" and demanded the journalist's immediate release.
López Hernández's statement also carries a personal dimension: she herself was detained on September 18 for the fifth time this year while attempting her monthly civic protest at Freedom Park in Matanzas. She was held for nearly five hours.
Current State of Political Repression in Cuba
Since June 2024, the activist has faced house arrest under "case 40," charged with "assault" and facing a prosecutor’s request for a four-year prison sentence.
According to Prisoners Defenders, Cuba had 1,339 political prisoners as of September 10, while Cubalex documented 919 victims of human rights violations between January and June of this year alone.
Understanding the Legal and Political Implications in Cuba
What are the charges against Henry Constantin Ferreiro?
Henry Constantin Ferreiro is accused of "disobedience" for allegedly failing to comply with a summons from the Directorate of Identification, Immigration, and Foreigners.
Why is Alina Bárbara López Hernández critical of the arrest?
Alina Bárbara López Hernández criticizes the arrest as politically motivated, arguing that there is no reasonable evidence to justify the charges against Constantin, who leads an independent magazine.
How has the international community responded to Constantin's detention?
The Inter American Press Association has condemned the detention, calling it a serious instance of harassment against independent journalism in Cuba and demanding Constantin's immediate release.