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The United States demands the immediate release of Cuban dissidents José Daniel Ferrer and Félix Navarro.

The United States demands the immediate release of Cuban dissidents José Daniel Ferrer and Félix Navarro.

The recent arrest of Cuban dissidents José Daniel Ferrer and Félix Navarro has sparked a strong reaction from the United States government , which condemned what it called “brutal and unjust treatment” by the regime led by Miguel Díaz-Canel . Through its spokesperson, Tammy Bruce , the State Department made public its demand for their immediate release , not only for the two activists, but also for the hundreds of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience who, they claim, remain arbitrarily imprisoned on the island.

This episode adds to a long list of international complaints about the constant violation of human rights in Cuba , where authorities are intensifying their persecution of those who dissent from the official narrative. What happened to Ferrer and Navarro not only reflects the repressive nature of a regime that has been in power for decades, but also demonstrates the fragility of political agreements between Havana and Washington, even when mediated by such important organizations as the Vatican .

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In January, as part of a humanitarian agreement involving negotiations between the governments of Cuba and the United States mediated by the Vatican, the Díaz-Canel regime pledged to release 553 political prisoners , including José Daniel Ferrer , leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) , and Félix Navarro , a renowned activist and founder of the Pedro Luis Boitel Party for Democracy . In return, Cuba would be removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism , a designation that carries international sanctions and economic restrictions.

However, this apparent progress in human rights was reversed this week when Cuba's Supreme People's Court overturned the release of both opponents. According to the court's arguments, Navarro allegedly violated conditions imposed by leaving his municipality without judicial authorization on seven occasions, while Ferrer allegedly missed two mandatory court appearances. Such justifications were considered by various international actors as baseless legal pretexts used to justify a new act of repression .

The circumstances of the latest arrest have sparked outrage both in Cuba and abroad. According to reports, Félix Navarro was detained in the early hours of the morning at his home in Perico as he was preparing to visit his daughter, a prisoner of conscience and co-founder of the Ladies in White , a women's peaceful protest movement. José Daniel Ferrer was detained at the UNPACU headquarters in Reparto Altamira after it was ransacked by regime forces .

But the repression was not limited to opposition leaders. Several members of their families and close associates were also arrested, such as Rolian Zarraga Ferrer , Fernando González Vaillant , and Roilan Álvarez Rensoler , reflecting a strategy by the Cuban government to stifle dissent through collective punishment. Ferrer's sister, Belkis Ferrer García , was one of the first to denounce the events, calling the regime " miserable and cowardly " and demanding the immediate release of all political prisoners .

Various human rights organizations and opposition groups inside and outside Cuba have spoken out. The Council for the Democratic Transition in Cuba (CTDC) warned of a renewed escalation of repression , considering the arrests of Ferrer and Navarro a serious sign that the regime intends to eliminate all forms of organized dissent . In an official statement, the CTDC denounced the action as "a flagrant violation of human rights " and highlights the deterioration of democratic space on the island.

This week's arrests add to an alarming wave of repression that has left at least 350 new detainees in recent weeks, many of them linked to humanitarian work carried out by UNPACU. According to reports, State Security has intensified its actions against those seeking medical, food, or legal assistance , violating the right to peaceful assembly and association and even attacking the most vulnerable sectors of civil society.

What happened to Ferrer and Navarro is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a systematic pattern of political repression that has characterized the Cuban system for decades. The internal enemy narrative, used since the days of Fidel Castro , remains in place under Miguel Díaz-Canel, who continues to implement authoritarian measures to silence critical voices .

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The United States has repeatedly reiterated its support for human rights defenders in Cuba and its commitment to denouncing all forms of repression on the island. Diplomatic pressure will continue, although its effectiveness will also depend on the response of the international community , including the European Union , which has adopted a more cautious stance toward Havana in recent years.

The new arrest of José Daniel Ferrer and Félix Navarro not only highlights the fragility of diplomatic agreements with the Cuban regime, but also the persistent denial of fundamental rights on the island. The United States has been clear in its condemnation, but the response must be global and firm. As long as political prisoners continue to fill the country's jails, and citizens cannot express themselves freely without fear of persecution, any attempt at openness or dialogue with the Cuban government will lack real legitimacy. The immediate release of these opposition leaders is an essential step, but also a symbol of a much deeper struggle for freedom in Cuba.

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