Mother claims Cuba murdered her son in prison

In December 2023, in Cuba, Manuel de Jesús Guillén Esplugas, a 29-year-old political prisoner, was reported dead in Combinado del Este prison. He had been imprisoned since participating in anti-government protests on July 11, 2021, and his family was informed of his death by Cuban agents just after midnight, leaving them in shock and grief. The official autopsy stated he died of asphyxiation from hanging, but his mother, Dania María Esplugas, strongly refutes this claim, stating her son was tortured prior to his death. Photographs of his body revealed muddy footprints and other signs that suggest he had faced severe mistreatment in prison, leading to widespread allegations of human rights violations against the Cuban government. Guillén’s death marks the third case of a political prisoner from the July 11 protests who has died while incarcerated, raising alarm about the treatment of dissidents in the country. His mother filed habeas corpus petitions during his detention, which were denied, alongside reports of poor living conditions and lack of medical care that he faced. The circumstances surrounding his death demonstrate a troubling pattern of violence and neglect within Cuban prisons, where accountability is difficult due to the secrecy that shrouds the penal system. Without independent investigations available, the risks of official narratives being unchallenged remain high, leading to the fear that such tragedies may continue to occur without consequence.