From our Bureau of International Pressure on Leftist Latrine American Totalitarian Hellholes with some assistance from our Bureau of Useful Priests
Castro, Inc. did something unexpected nine days ago by “allowing” the bishop of Santiago de Cuba and another cleric to spend two hours with José Daniel Ferrer at the prison where he is incarcerated in a punishment cell. Apparently, the international pressure being applied to Castro, Inc. was too much for the dictatorship to bear. So, they pulled one of their favorite tricks: getting the Catholic Church involved in solving their public relations problem.
It is very clear that Castro, Inc. has already decided that the only immediate solution to the Ferrer “problem” is to forcibly exile him, as they did in 2011 with the Black Spring prisoners. But Ferrer is refusing to leave the island, just as he did that previous time. To allow two clerics to spend two hours with him can mean only one thing: Castro, Inc. was hoping the bishop and his assistant could convince Ferrer to accept the “generous” offer.
The “offer” apparently contains a threat: if Ferrer doesn’t leave the island, he will have to stay in prison until he dies. Given the punishment being meted out to him, as well as his poor health, everyone involved knows that it won’t take long for him to die of “natural causes.” Back in 2011, Castro, Inc., when Castro, Inc. made a similar offer to Ferrer, they actually threatened to execute him if he chose to stay in prison, but eventually Ferrer was freed.
Meanwhile, he is still prevented from communicating with his family or receiving 15-minute visits from them. Socialist compassion and social justice in action.
Loosely translated from Marti Noticias
José Daniel Ferrer received a religious visit on September 7th that lasted around two hours. Monsignor García Ibáñez was accompanied by Father Camilo de la Paz, head of prison ministry, confirmed by Ferrer’s wife.
“It’s a relief that someone, a person of God, was able to see him… after such a long time,” said Nelva Ortega Tamayo after Archbishop Dionisio García Ibáñez of Santiago de Cuba visited her husband, prisoner of conscience José Daniel Ferrer.
According to the bishop, Ferrer is emotionally strong, always with God, and physically stable compared to previous visits, though his health remains concerning. Ortega mentioned that Ferrer is suffering from acidity, stomach pain, and has an arm that is almost paralyzed.
Ferrer, leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba, was arrested on July 11, 2021, while trying to join protests in Santiago de Cuba. Since August 14, 2021, he has been held in solitary confinement. His wife explained that despite persistent harassment and threats, including the option of forced exile in exchange for his release, Ferrer has made it clear that he would rather die in prison than leave the country.
The political prisoner continues to demand his right to phone calls and family visits, which have been suspended for over a year and a half, except for a brief visit in March when his daughter, Fátima Victoria Ferrer Cantillo, was allowed to see him briefly to dispel rumors of his death circulating on social media.
If I were him, I would leave.
Cuba from within if you’re in jail is a lost cause.