Sixty-three Christian leaders in Cuba have signed a joint declaration decrying what they describe as the Cuban government’s continued systematic violation of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB).
The group particularly cites the government's refusal to allow unregistered places of worship to be legalised and the widespread application of fines on religious leaders. It says the measures have hindered the ability of religious groups to provide much needed humanitarian aid at a time of national crisis.
The declaration, released by the Alliance of Christians of Cuba (ACC), an independent network of religious leaders established in 2022, states that:‘We observe with dismay that the Cuban state refuses to open spaces for the exercise of fundamental rights such as freedom of association. This limits churches’ ability to provide support and social aid to those most in need… We have documented more than one million [Cuban Pesos (CUP)] collected by the government in fines imposed on religious leaders. This represents a direct attack on freedom of worship and on those seeking to help their communities.’
The statement goes on to note the negative impact on those most in need, including women and children, the elderly and those experiencing chronic illness.
Since January 2024 the charity Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has documented 69 cases across 11 provinces of religious leaders, including those of Christian and Afro-Cuban and both registered and unregistered religious groups, being targeted by government officials with fines.
It says that in June, the leader of an unregistered Christian group in Matanzas was fined 20,000 CUP for failing to vacate the location where the group holds religious services. The leader explained that they had all the legal papers proving ownership of the property, and that they had attempted repeatedly but unsuccessfully to obtain legal permission for the group to meet there.
In October, leaders of two registered Christian religious groups in the provinces of Camagüey and Holguin were fined 15,000 CUP and 50,000 CUP respectively for authorised renovations to their properties.
The heavy fines imposed on religious leaders come at a time when Cuba is facing one of its worst economic crises in decades. Over the past few months, the island has been hit by a series of hurricanes and tropical storms, experienced an earthquake, and seen its national power grid fail on multiple occasions. There are severe shortages of basic necessities including food, medicine and fuel, and an estimated 10% of the population is believed to have fled the country over the past five years.
CSW’s co-Director of Advocacy Anna Lee Stangl said: "Cuba is experiencing a crisis unlike anything it has seen in decades. Instead of opening space to independent civil society, including religious groups, to allow them to provide much needed humanitarian aid to the wider community, the government under President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez is tightening restrictions on all freedoms. CSW continues to stand with the Alliance of Christians of Cuba in their call to the Cuban government to protect fundamental human rights including the right to freedom of religion or belief."