The UK’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, has written a letter to imprisoned Cuban Protestant pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo to reaffirm the UK government’s commitment to advocating for his release.

The letter, dated 10th December, was sent in observance of Human Rights Day and expressed solidarity with Pastor Rosales Fajardo, urging Cuban authorities to release him and all other political prisoners immediately and unconditionally.

In the letter, David Lammy MP wrote "we stand in solidarity with you and so many other Cubans who are victims of widespread repression", adding that the UK would continue to monitor human rights in Cuba in line with the Cuban Constitution’s guarantees.

Pastor Rosales Fajardo was arrested on 11th July 2021 during peaceful protests across Cuba.

He was tried and convicted on charges of 'disrespect', 'assault', 'criminal incitement', and 'public disorder' in December 2021.

In May 2022, his family was informed that he had been sentenced to seven years in prison, a reduction from the original eight-year sentence.

He was initially held at the Boniato Maximum Security Prison before being moved to a minimum-security facility closer to his family’s home in early 2023.

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention determined in February 2024 that Pastor Rosales Fajardo’s detention was arbitrary.

Human rights organisation Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has been advocating for his release.

Ellis Heasley from CSW told Premier Christian News that the UN statement is significant as it "gives a mandate to governments like our own to engage with Cuba and say this is unjust, this is arbitrary, they can raise the case and they can put pressure on the Cuban government to respond, and ultimately to release him"

Pastor Rosales Fajardo’s wife, Maridilegnis Carballo, and family continue to advocate for his freedom.