Washington, DC – The International Republican Institute (IRI) released the following statement after Manuel de Jesús Guillén Esplugas, a democracy activist in Cuba, was killed in prison.
“The International Republican Institute strongly condemns the killing of Manuel de Jesús Guillén Esplugas by Cuban authorities. The regime in Havana is working to intimidate and frighten those who simply want an accountable and transparent government. The continued targeting of democratic protestors throughout the country is more proof that the communist dictatorship fears its own people.
“IRI remains committed to seeing democracy flourish in Cuba and calls for the immediate release of all other political prisoners.”
Background
Manuel de Jesús Guillén Esplugas was being held in Cuba’s Combinado del Este prison where he was serving a six-year sentence for recording and sharing videos of the July 11, 2021, mass protests. Guillén was a member of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) and Cuba Decide, two civil society groups at the forefront of the democratic resistance in Cuba. His death occurred following a brutal beating, according to reports from prison watchdog group Justicia 11J and Cuba Decide. According to Justicia 11J, Guillén’s killing marks the third verified death of July 11th protestors in state custody and the 72nd documented prison death since 2023, according to the Cuban Prisons Documentation Center.
Between March 2023 and June 2024 at least 32 inmates died due to negligence or lack of medical attention, and Cuban state security reported nine suicides, according to the Center. During the same period, the Center documented 2,395 cases of abuse against inmates occurred, including beatings, isolation, torture, sexual abuse, and denial of basic rights such as family visits, religious assistance, and adequate food or sunlight exposure. Combinado del Este, where Guillén was imprisoned, had the highest number of complaints, with 315 cases of abuse reported.
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