Christian Solidarity Worldwide, 13 January 2020
The Cuban government continues to routinely and systematically violate freedom of religion or belief. At the same time there were some positive developments within the religious sector itself.
The creation of a new umbrella group for Protestant denominations is a show of unity unseen in Cuba since before 1959.
Reports of harassment of religious leaders increased in parallel with the religious groups’ increasing outspokenness and moves towards more unity.
A number of major religious leaders have been banned from leaving the country. CSW also received reports of threats and cases of arbitrary detention involving religious leaders and Freedom of Religion or Belief defenders.
Ricardo Fernandez Izaguirre, a Cuban religious freedom defender was arbitrarily detained at noon on Friday 12 July and has since been held incommunicado.