Christian Advocacy Now

Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo was detained after taking part in a peaceful march and continues to be held in a maximum security prison alongside prisoners convicted of violent crimes, sentenced to seven years in prison. His wife, Maridilegnis Carballo, was told there will be repercussions for her 17-year-old son if she continues to speak out about her husband’s detention.

Write your Senators to ask them to work with President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken and the Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, as soon as they are appointed, to ensure that Cuba remains a designated Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for violations of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) and that the US continues to closely monitor and support those who are involved in the promotion of FoRB and all fundamental human rights in Cuba. (Source: CSW)

For Illinois residents, write to:

and

For residents of other states, use the following url to look up the mailing address of your senators: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

Adapt the following letter to ask your senators to act on behalf of Pastor Rosales Fajardo and for religious freedom and freedom of expression in Cuba:

Dear Senator ______,

I am writing to ask for your support for the many Cubans who have been detained and are facing criminal charges for participating in peaceful protests in July.

Thousands of Cubans marched peacefully in towns and cities across the island on July 11, in spontaneous protests, calling for freedom and political change to address the humanitarian crisis there. In response Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel, gave a televised military order to retake the streets and police, state security agents and other militants responded to the protestors with violence and mass detention.

Hundreds of Cubans were detained including many human rights defenders, artists, and pro-democracy activists but also ordinary Cubans, young and old. Religious leaders were among those who were violently detained including a Catholic priest who was beaten and detained for about 24 hours, as well as two Baptist pastors in Matanzas who were detained incommunicado for two weeks and were then released but still face criminal charges and possible imprisonment.

I am especially concerned about Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo, who joined the peaceful marches along with his 17-year-old son and other members of their church. Pastor Rosales Fajardo and his son were both detained and then separated. His son was considered ‘disappeared’ for a week before he was finally allowed to return home. A witness took a photo of Pastor Rosales Fajardo at the moment of his detention, as he was held in a chokehold. He was then handcuffed, thrown to the ground, and kicked repeatedly in his abdomen and face, resulting in severe pain and loss of a tooth.

Pastor Rosales Fajardo has been held in a state security facility in the city of Santiago since July 11. His wife was prohibited from speaking to or even seeing him for nearly a month and repeated attempts by local pastors to visit him were denied. Since then, Pastor Rosales Farjado has only been allowed one three-minute phone call with his wife. He is being charged with “disrespect,” “public disorder,” and “attacks.” I am very worried about his welfare and the hundreds of others like him who are being held in terrible conditions for peacefully expressing themselves.

I stand with religious groups in Cuba who have issued repeated public statements condemning the government’s use of violence, affirming the right of all people to peacefully express themselves including through demonstrations, and calling for the release of all of those who have been unjustly detained in connection with the peaceful protests on July 11. I was disturbed to see that on August 17, the Cuban government announced a new law that criminalizes any online criticism of the authorities and the political system as well as any online post that can be connected to peaceful public protests. This law means that the religious leaders and many other who have spoken out are now vulnerable to charges of cyberterrorism.

I am encouraged to hear of the implementation of sanctions targeting some of the Cuban officials responsible for these human rights violations. I respectfully request that the Senate also explore ways to make it clear to the Cuban government that its actions are unacceptable and that you engage with President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken and Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom nominee Rashad Hussain to closely monitor and seek ways to support those who are involved in the promotion of freedom of religion or belief and all fundamental human rights in Cuba.

Thank you for your attention to the situation in Cuba.

Yours sincerely,