Statement
ARC Urges Cuban Government to Include Artists in Prisoner Release
Cuba
The Vatican-Brokered Deal Stokes Hope for Release of Imprisoned Artists
UPDATE: As of January 16 at 10:46 AM, sources report the release of the Voces Presas case and Cuba musician and rapper Randy Arteaga Rivera. ARC remains attentive to the situation and poised to inform on new developments as they arise.
January 16, 2025
(NEW YORK) – Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), Cuban Writers in Exile PEN Centre, and PEN International welcome the Cuban government’s announcement on January 14, 2025, of a mass prisoner release mediated by Pope Francis and the Vatican following the United States' removal of the country from its state sponsors of terrorism list. The organizations call on the Cuban authorities to include the artists who remain unjustly imprisoned on the island in this release.
“This announcement marks a pivotal opportunity for the Cuban government to reaffirm its commitment to justice and human rights,” said Julie Trébault, ARC’s Executive Director. “We strongly urge the authorities to prioritize the inclusion of imprisoned artists, such as Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel Castillo Pérez—whose resilience and creativity symbolize the unyielding power of artistic freedom in the island. This is a moment for all parties involved to ensure respect for freedom of expression and protect the voices of artists and the cultural heritage they represent."
“PEN International welcomes the Cuban government's recent announcement, which offers a potential pathway for the release of artists and writers unjustly imprisoned. Cultural workers, creators, and authors on the island have long been champions of peace, hope, and human rights. The global PEN community calls for the immediate prioritization of all writers imprisoned for criticizing the authorities, including poet Maria Cristina Garrido Rodriguez. We also urge an end to persecution and censorship in all its forms," said Romana Cacchioli, Executive Director of PEN International.
According to the announcement made by the Cuban Minister of Foreign Relations on January 14, 553 individuals will be released, and “the releases are carried out on the basis of a careful analysis of the different modalities contemplated in the legislation.” It is not clear what the criteria will be for determining who will make it to the list of 553 individuals and what these modalities entail. However, the Ministry explained that the release of prisoners will take place “gradually.”
The Cuban government has extensively targeted artists and cultural workers on the island for exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression. As part of the Voces Presas campaign, ARC, PEN International, and Civil Rights Defenders have worked to monitor and highlight the stories of unjustly imprisoned Cuban creatives. Among those profiled are Latin Grammy Award-winning rapper Maykel Castillo Pérez; graffiti artist, tattoo artist, and model, Jessica Lisbeth Torres Calvo; musician and rapper Randy Arteaga Rivera; poet and activist Maria Cristina Garrido Rodriguez; and Luis Manuel Otero Alcánatara, one of TIME Magazine's 100 most influential people in 2021.
ABOUT ARC:
Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) is an international organization committed to promoting and advancing the right to artistic freedom worldwide. Founded in 2017, ARC works to protect artists and cultural workers who are at risk because of their creative expression, often connected to their identities or roles within their communities. By providing vital resources and support, ARC helps artists at risk overcome challenges like persecution, censorship, threats, and violence from both state and non-state actors—whether for their artistic expression or the broader impact they have on cultural, social, and political issues.
ABOUT PEN INTERNATIONAL:
PEN International is the largest and most important association of writers that stands at the confluence of literature and human rights, to protect freedom of expression worldwide. Founded in London in 1921, PEN International connects an international community of writers. PEN operates on five continents through 130 centres in more than 90 countries. PEN International works to promote the PEN Charter and to ensure that people everywhere have the freedom to write, to disseminate information and ideas, to express their opinions and to access the ideas and literatures of others. We defend the freedom to write, recognising the power of literature to transform the world. In 2021, PEN International celebrated its centenary. More than 100 years after its founding, it is recognised as a leading international charity and expert on freedom of expression.