Key facts
- Dissident Cuban artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara has been removed from prison and his whereabouts are unknown.
- A human rights organization, Cubalex, has filed a habeas corpus petition to locate him.
- Alcántara was arrested in 2021 for protesting government actions and sentenced to five years in prison.
- His removal from Guanajay Prison occurred on July 7, 2024.
- The Cuban government has increased persecution of critics since the July 2021 protests.
A human rights organization operating outside Cuba has filed a habeas corpus petition to determine the whereabouts of dissident artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, who was removed from Guanajay Prison on July 7 and is now unaccounted for. Cubalex, which provides legal advice to dissidents and reports on human rights violations, stated that judicial authorities have 72 hours to respond to the petition, citing a critical situation of vulnerability for the artist. Alcántara, 38, was arrested on July 11, 2021, as he attempted to join a large protest against power outages in Cuba. In 2022, he was sentenced to five years in prison for charges including public disorder and contempt. The Cuban government has reportedly intensified its persecution of social media critics since the July 2021 protests. The artist's case was recently highlighted by US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Walz during a debate concerning the US embargo against Cuba. Organizations like Amnesty International have recognized Alcántara as a political prisoner, a designation not acknowledged by the Cuban government.