The Cuban political police detained this Thursday in Havana the journalist and writer Jorge Fernández Era for about six hours, according to family and friends denounced on social networks. After learning of Fernández Era’s detention, the teacher Alina Bárbara López Hernández went out to peacefully protest his release in a park in Matanzas and was arrested shortly after. She was also detained for several hours, although her whereabouts were unknown until she left, according to her daughter Lilian Borroto.
“I have just been informed that she was arrested along with my sister Cecilia Borroto López, after a physical attack by State Security. I do not know her whereabouts and I hold State Security and the PNR (National Revolutionary Police) responsible for her physical integrity,” said the young woman in a message sent to 14 intervene.
For his part, The Young Cubaa medium of which Jorge Fernández Era is a collaborator, reported in Facebook that, after several hours “since his arrest and a wave of solidarity on social networks, as well as peaceful demonstrations”, the writer was released.
“Joven Cuba thanks all those who were aware of Jorge’s situation and who expressed their support. Likewise, it rejects the arbitrary detentions of the Cuban authorities and the violation of civil liberties and rights.”
“I have just been informed that she was arrested along with my sister Cecilia Borroto López, after a physical attack by State Security”
After learning of Fernández Era’s arrest, Professor José Manuel González Rubines indicated that the arrest had taken place around 12:30 p.m. for “disobedience” to the “subpoenas for an interview” that he had recently received from State Security. The intellectual was taken to the Aguilera Police Unit, in Calzada de Luyanó and Porvenir.
Laideliz Herrera Laza, Fernández Era’s wife, informed González Rubines that the summonses were appealed to the Prosecutor’s Office, but the writer did not receive a response from that body.
Before the arrest of the journalist, Alina Bárbara López Hernández, wrote a post on Facebook to report that “if he was not immediately released” he would go out in public protest. “If other people join, I will not oppose it. Stop repressing freedom of expression in Cuba,” he said.
Through the same social network, he detailed the steps of his demonstration. “I am leaving immediately for the Parque de la Libertad in Matanzas,” she wrote. “I will be there in protest until Jorge is released. I warn you that if you try to stop me I will resist, so bring reinforcements.”
The Cuban Observatory of Cultural Rights denounced the arrest of the writer and journalist while warning that last January he was summoned by State Security and threatened with criminal proceedings against him.” His arrest is part of “the repression” carried out by the Cuban government for his work.
The ODC alerted about the growing penal violence exerted on Cuban artists, and will continue to closely follow the current event of repression against Fernández Era.
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