The incident marks the fourth time in three years that Rigau has faced detention or interrogation by state security concerning her reporting

Location: Cuba, Camagüey
Date: September 17, 2023

La Hora de Cuba journalist Neife Rigau interrogated by State Security a day after the G77+China Summit hosted by Cuba ended. Authorities crack down on critical voices during G77+China, including detaining Rigau’s partner, award-winning journalist Henry Constantín Ferreiro, at the onset of the Summit. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is alarmed by authorities silencing independent media amid a significant global event. We strongly condemn the threats and legal harassment Rigau endured. We call on the Cuban authorities to immediately cease the harassment of journalists and take proactive measures to ensure their ability to carry out their duties without fear of reprisal.

“The purpose of me being there was to threaten me,” says independent journalist Neife Rigau after being interrogated by Cuba’s State Security. The interrogation comes a day after Havana hosted the international G77+China summit —  a coalition of 135 UN members to advocate for the Global South. “While I was there, they asked me several personal questions," she writes. 

Mere days before, Rigau’s partner, Henry Constantin Ferreiro, who is the the director of the award-winning publication La Hora de Cuba, was unlawfully detained. According to police, Ferreiro was detained for being “illegally in Havana." He has since been released.

The G77+China summit saw a sharp increase in the arbitrary arrests, threats, and unlawful monitoring of several members of independent civil society. Independent journalists face constant surveillance from state security officers, who attempt to limit their mobility and conduct periodic interrogations, often deleting information from their devices.

Both Rigau and Ferreiro have continuously been harassed for their work by authorities, facing

multiple instances of arbitrary detention by State Security, and have been summoned for interrogation on numerous occasions since 2021.

Sustained Legal Pressure on Neife Rigau and Henry Constantín Ferreiro

On July 11, 2021, Rigau and Ferreiro were arrested while participating in a protest in Camagüey. The incident was followed by a subsequent search of their house conducted by the police just two days later. After their release, both journalists were placed under house arrest. 

Both reporters were yet again detained on November 12, 2021, and subsequently transferred to Villa María Luisa, which serves as the base of operations for the political police in that province. They were released later that day. 

Following the arrest, Ferreiro and Rigau were reportedly threatened with warning letters by State Security, cautioning them against participating in any demonstrations on November 15 led by pro-democracy activists associated with the dissident group Archipelago as part of a nationwide Civic March for Change. The warning letters served as a means to discourage their involvement in protests or any form of public dissent.

Rigau and Ferreiro were later arrested on May 5, 2022, in Camagüey. The arrest occurred after they had attended a performance at the Teatro Principal in the city. Ferreiro stated that the agents who arrested them did not provide any legal documents explaining the arrest and did not identify themselves.

They were taken to the State Security Operations headquarters in the Garrido neighborhood after their arrest. Ferreiro reported that he was abused by an officer who forcefully pushed him and subsequently stepped on his foot.

They received a warning document in which they were threatened with prosecution for various crimes, including public disorder, instigation to commit a crime, illegal demonstration, and disobedience. Ferreiro and Rigau were then taken to Ferreiro's home, where State Security kept them under surveillance throughout the day.

The reason for the arrest appears to be linked to a post on Facebook by Rigau. In the post, the journalist criticized the celebration of "Workers' Day" on May 1 and advised her followers not to participate in the government-organized march unless they were demanding respect, better salaries, economic freedom, free unions, decent pensions, and an overall better life for everyone in Cuba. This expression of dissent and call for change apparently led to their arrest.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands firmly behind Neife Rigau, offering unwavering support in light of the unjust legal harassment she has endured. We strongly denounce such actions and call on Cuban authorities to immediately cease their suppression of press freedom and halt the mistreatment of journalists who are merely fulfilling their professional duties.

The right to freedom of expression and the press is a fundamental human right enshrined in international conventions and agreements. Governments are responsible for protecting and upholding these rights, ensuring that journalists can work in a safe and enabling environment.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.