Mayelín Rodríguez Prado was arrested after uploading images to Facebook of a small demonstration in Nuevitas in August 2022
Mayelín Rodríguez Prado was arrested after uploading images to Facebook of a small demonstration in Nuevitas in August 2022
At the age of 22, Mayelín Rodríguez Prado received the heaviest of the sentences the Cuban government handed down to a group of 13 people who demonstrated in August 2022 in the municipality of Nuevitas, in central Cuba. Prado, who is the mother of a little girl, will serve 15 years in prison for publishing the protests through the social network Facebook.
Prado recorded the moment in which Cuban police beat three girls during the demonstration, as well as otherrepressive actions against protestors. The young woman, whose daughter at the time was less than a year old, was detained at her home after the protest and held in solitary confinement at a State Security facility.
The judicial sentence issued by the Municipal Court of Camagüey, to which the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH) had access, states that the court agreed to punish Prado as “author of an intentional and consummated crime of enemy propaganda of a continuous nature” and “author of an intentional and consummated crime of sedition.” The court also announced sentences of between four and 14 years for 12 other participants in the demonstration for the same crimes. According to the Cuban Penal Code, sedition is a “crime against the internal security of the State,” and anyone who “tumultuously and by means of express or tacit agreement, using violence, disturbs the socialist order” can be prosecuted on that charge.
Cuba is overall liberalising, just have a look at the gazillion of reforms after Castro. OTOH authoritarian habits die hard especially in places such as courts backing up the "thin blue line".
A third take: Authoritarian groups have been historically successful in wiping out (usually by force) less authoritarian groups and their methods of organizing.
The president has had over three years to cure cancer and he has done nothing. I'm planning to write in 'Cancer' this November because at least it has a proven track record.
That's a heavy sentence. I am curious if she is the most sympathetic case or what are the situations with those other 12 who appear to have received lesser sentences?
The court also announced sentences of between four and 14 years for 12 other participants in the demonstration for the same crimes.
I swear people on here think the right to protest is some magical talisman that protects you from the consequences of your actions.
If you break other laws the right to protest doesn't somehow stop that being illegal - you cant just wear a free Palestine shirt and go shop lifting or break into someone's house.
It is about not making protesting illegal in the absence of other crimes - like for example it is in Cuba where this person didn't commit other crimes but is arrested simply for documenting.