Cuba: Journalists Branded as 'Mercenaries', WPF Condemns State Persecution of Independent Media
October 3, 2024 - Cuba
Since mid-September 2024, around twenty people linked to independent media, including journalists, project managers, activists, and content creators, have been summoned as "witnesses" in a criminal investigation. They face accusations of being "mercenaries" and face prison sentences of between four and ten years.
Maria Lucia Exposito, a freelance journalist, was subjected to an extensive six-hour interrogation by authorities, during which her personal belongings, including her phone and US$1,000, were confiscated.
Katia Sanchez, a freelance communications strategist with ties to independent media outlet El Toque and SembraMedia, also faced targeted harassment from state agents. After being questioned by Ministry of the Interior officials over her participation in foreign-funded training programs for journalists, she was threatened with prosecution under Cuba's strict penal code. Authorities accused her of violating Article 143, which criminalizes receiving foreign funding as "mercenary" activity. Fearing imminent legal action and further persecution, Katia fled Cuba on September 13, 2024.
Women Press Freedom is deeply concerned over the Cuban government's actions, and calls for respect for journalists' rights to free expression and safe reporting. We urge the international community, including human rights organizations and press freedom advocates, to condemn these actions and demand that the Cuban government immediately cease its campaign of harassment against journalists. There must be accountability for those responsible for coercive interrogations, threats, and the implementation of restrictive laws aimed at criminalizing independent journalism.
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A man, who appeared uninvited and became verbally aggressive, forced the group to abandon the interview
