PRESS RELEASE

CFC welcomes former political prisoner José Daniel Ferrer into exile, highlights five cases in health crises, calls for release of Cuban political prisoners, and Red Cross access to Cuban prisons.

Contacts: John Suarez (612) 367-6845 / Janisset Rivero (786) 208-6056

Center for a Free Cuba, October 14, 2025, Washington, DC. The forced exile of opposition figure and former political prisoner José Daniel Ferrer García demonstrates the systematic nature of repression in Cuba and his plight while imprisoned, the conditions of physical and psychological torture to which dissidents are subjected.

“We welcome José Daniel Ferrer García and denounce his forced exile by the Cuban dictatorship. We also take this opportunity to highlight the cases of five Cuban prisoners of conscience. Juan Enrique Pérez Sánchez, Rolando Yusef Pérez Morera, Félix Navarro Rodríguez, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, and Loreto Hernández García are suffering severe health crises that involve life-threatening conditions, but recognize there are many others in dire conditions.

Juan Enrique Pérez Sánchez is serving a sentence in the Combinado del Este prison in Havana for taking part in 11J protests in 2021. Family fears that he is exhibiting symptoms of tuberculosis, together with other recent cold symptoms; and severe weight loss for which he has not received adequate treatment.

Rolando Yusef Pérez Morera is serving a sentence in the prison of Quivicán, in Mayabeque province for taking part in the 11J protests in 2021. He is suffering from severe pneumonia, extreme malnutrition, high fever; and has not received adequate medical care.

Félix Navarro Rodríguez, age 72, is serving a sentence in Agüica prison, the maximum security facility in Matanzas, for inquiring about the plight of 11J protesters in 2021. No medical access; wife reports he can barely speak. The IACHR concerned that he is “not receiving adequate medical care, despite his advanced age and chronic illnesses, and would face restrictions on receiving food and maintaining contact with his family.”

Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is serving a sentence in Guanajay prison in Artemisa. He was arrested outside of his home on July 11, 2021 for attempting to join the 11J protests. The Cuban artist is suffering from a Chikungunya infection (fever, diarrhea, general malaise), prior partial paralysis, and a lack of proper medical treatment.

Loreto Hernández García is serving a sentence in Guamajal prison in Villa Clara. The Yoruba priest was arrested in 2021 for taking part in the 11J protests. He is suffering chest pains; leg cramps and numbness; suffers from uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension, asthma, heart issues, and is not receiving adequate treatment.

We are calling for the release of all Cuban political prisoners, hundreds of men and women who are suffering under inhumane conditions in Cuba. We are also calling on the international community to demand that Havana grant the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) access to all Cuban prisons to evaluate prison conditions, and ensure the humane treatment of all Cuban prisoners. The last visit of the ICRC to prisons under Havana’s supervision was in 1989, and that is an outrage” said John Suárez, executive director of the Center for a Free Cuba.

José Daniel Ferrer arrived in exile this Monday, October 13, with his family.

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