The family of political prisoner Jose Daniel Ferrer were able to confirm he is still alive after rumors had spread he had been executed by the communist Castro dictatorship. Ferrer’s daughter was allowed a two-minute visit with her father, where she found him laying on the floor of his cell in solitary confinement, unable to get up.
Via ADN Cuba (my translation):
Opposition leader Jose Daniel Ferrer is alive, his family confirms
Opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer is alive, as confirmed by his daughter Fátima Victoria Ferrer Cantillo in a brief two-minute encounter with him at Mar Verde prison in Santiago de Cuba.
Ferrer Cantillo went to the prison seeking proof of life of her father, who has been held incommunicado by the regime. Initially, the authorities did not allow her to see him, said the dissident’s sister Ana Belkis Ferrer in a video published by the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU).
“They finally agreed to take her to the isolation cell where they have kept him confined since August 14, 2021, under cruel, inhumane, and degrading conditions, subjected to constant physical and psychological torture,” said Ana Belkis.
Ferrer was found lying on the cell floor, “unable to even sit up.” The UNPACU coordinator told his daughter that he had not been beaten recently.
The family has expressed concern about the regime’s communication blackout and the torture to which the activist is subjected. “We continue to be extremely concerned because the dictatorship has been slowly killing José Daniel since the day they took him,” declared Ana Belkis in the video.
Several U.S. politicians have demanded proof of life for Ferrer internationally.
Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart emphasized that Ferrer’s life is in the hands of the Cuban regime, which will have “blood on its hands” if anything happens to the dissident.
Likewise, Republican Representative María Elvira Salazar wrote on her X profile: “Today Santiago took to the streets. There lives the patriot José Daniel Ferrer, imprisoned in a Castro jail since 2021. The family has heard nothing from Ferrer since November 2023. There are now rumors of his death in prison. We demand proof of life for José Daniel. We want him free!”.
Senator Rick Scott lamented that the opposition leader’s family has not been able to see him.
Euro MP José Ramón Bauzá also expressed alarm over rumors about the life of UNPACU’s general coordinator.
“How many more have to die before we realize that we do not negotiate with criminals like Díaz-Canel? I asked Borrell this. Alarmed by the rumors about the death of José Daniel Ferrer, which I hope will be refuted with proof of life by the regime,” he said.