Our Moral Debt to Luis Robles
In an attempt to strike terror among the growing dissenting voices in Cuban society, the dictatorship in Cuba has announced its intention to sentence Luis Robles Elizástigui (28 years old) to 7 years in prison in retaliation for peacefully exercising his right to free speech and assembly. Information about his sentence was provided by Robles’ brother, Landy Fernández Elizastigui to Diario de Cuba. The charges on which the regime plans to prosecute Robles are “Enemy Propaganda” and “Resistance. “ Both of these articles covered under the Cuban Penal Code have been deemed by Human Rights Watch and other organizations as a violation of the article 19 and article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Initially, Robles was charged with “Criimes Against State Security” and “terrorism.” However, both charges were dropped given the absolute lack of correlation between the actions of a peaceful protester and the accusations brought forth.
On December 4, 2020, Luis Robles took to the streets in a peaceful protest. He was seen in a viral video that circulated on social media holding a placard in the San Rafael Boulevard in Habana calling for the release of Denis Solis (a dissident artist sentenced to 8 months in prison in reprisal for for his membership in the San Isidro Movement) and raising a voice against repression and in support of freedom in Cuba. Since he was arbitrarily arrested, Robles’ has been denied medications for his acid reflux health condition. Even though his family has brought him the medication, the State Security has refused to hand Robles this medication. In addition, his family has been the target of State Security intimidation and harassment. According to the Human Rights Report (Year 2, No. 18), State Security agents have publicly intimidated Robles’ mother and his brother by visiting their respective work places and uttered threats. As a consequence, Robles’ brother was fired from his workplace in February 2021
Democratic Spaces reiterate the call to initiate with urgency a GLOBAL CAMPAIGN to demand the immediate release of Luis Robles. We are morally in debt with Luis Robes as we are with all prisoners of conscience in Cuba. However, in the case of Robles, we should consider that he is a representative of young ordinary cubans with the courage to come forward when called to take to the streets. Robles courageously responded to the call made by Luis Otero Alcantara and the San Isidro Movement urging people for solidarity with the campaign to release Denís Solís. Robles is not a known member of the pro democratic opposition and therefore this makes it imperative for all of us to bring Robles’ case to the urgent attention of democratic governments and human rights organizations around the world. He was once the voice of the voiceless, not Robles needs us to be his VOICE.
