The communist Castro dictatorship has been very active this year persecuting Cubans of faith, according to a report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. The report indicates the Cuban regime is using its oppressive laws to criminalize the expression of faith and persecute those who defy the regime by offering worship to any god other than the State.
Via Marti Noticias (my translation):
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has warned that violations of religious freedom by the Cuban government “have remained particularly severe throughout 2024.”
“The government uses its repressive legal framework to strictly control religious associations and criminalize religious activities and expressions,” emphasized the report released on Friday by the independent entity established by the U.S. Congress in 1998.
Moreover, the Cuban government “harasses believers and continues to mistreat religious prisoners of conscience,” USCIRF noted in its report updating the situation on the island.
Regarding U.S. policy, the report suggests reiterating the importance the U.S. places on religious freedom conditions in Cuba.
Another recommendation is to continue pressing the communist regime to extend official invitations for unrestricted visits by the USCIRF, the U.S. Special Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief.
The report covers a variety of obstacles faced by individuals and religious organizations on the island. It highlights that the Cuban government uses its repressive legal framework “to prohibit religious organizations from obtaining legal registration.” It also threatens and punishes believers “who express ideas or participate in any religious activity perceived as critical.”
Religious persecution is nothing new in communist Cuba and has been going on for decades. What is noteworthy is how the Castro dictatorship continues to be supported and defended by free nations around the world.