Gender: Female
Current Location: Guamajal Prison, Villa Clara
Perpetrator: Cuba
Ethnic Group: Yoruba
Religion or Belief: Santería
Health Concerns: Hypertension, diabetes, contracted COVID-19
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 8 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: July/16/2021
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Association Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Religious Identity
Nature of Charges: Assault & Battery Public Disorder Unlawful Disobedience
Donaida Pérez Paseiro is imprisoned for her religious identity, religious activity, and religious leadership role.
On July 16, 2021, Paseiro, the president of the Free Yoruba Association of Cuba (Asociación de Yorubas Libres de Cuba, or “Free Yorubas”), an independent Santería community, formally surrendered herself to police in compliance with an arrest warrant following her peaceful participation in protests on July 11, 2021. Paseiro was charged with public disorder, disobedience/contempt, and assault.
In September 2021, it was reported that Paseiro had been sentenced to eight years in prison; however, additional reporting from January 2022 indicated that she was still on trial and had yet to be officially sentenced. Prosecutors were reportedly seeking eight years in prison for Paseiro.
In December 2021, Paseiro was transferred to a hospital after vomiting blood and experiencing abdominal pain for two days.
On an unspecified date, Paseiro was reportedly sentenced to eight years in prison.
In late July 2022, Paseiro reportedly developed COVID-19 symptoms and was forced to isolate.
Prison authorities have reportedly tried to force Paseiro to renounce her faith.
Paseiro is currently being held in Guamajal Prison, Villa Clara.
Paseiro is married with two children. Her husband Loreto Hernández García is also imprisoned for his participation in July 11 protests.
Paseiro has been repeatedly harassed by authorities because of her religious leadership role. In September 2020, she was arrested and assaulted by police, sustaining injuries to her chest and face. She was also arrested in February 2020.
Related Cases: Loreto Hernández García, Elizabeth Cintra García, Lisdiani Rodríguez Isaac, Lisdani Rodríguez Isaac
Photo used with permission from Global Liberty Alliance
USCIRF Hearing: Deteriorating Religious Freedom Conditions in Cuba June 28, 2023
USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom Conditions in Cuba December 2022
USCIRF Conversation: Constitutional Reform and Religious Freedom in Cuba August 2, 2022
"Preocupación por la salud de la prisionera política del 11J Donaida Pérez Paseiro" Radio Televisión Martí
"Presa política Donaida Pérez Paseiro en aislamiento por presentar síntomas de Covid-19" Radio Televisión Martí
"Denuncian silencio oficial ante mal estado de salud de la presa política Donaida Pérez Paseiro" Radio Televisión Martí
USCIRF Commissioner James Carr, Tweet, October 12, 2021
"Case Update: Free Yorubas, Cuban Dissidents Face 8-10 Years in Prison for Participation in 11J Demonstrations in Placentas" Global Liberty Alliance
USCIRF Factsheet: Protests in Cuba and Religious Freedom September 2021
"Press Release: Free Yorubas Unlawfully Detained, Imprisoned Following Peaceful Protests" Global Liberty Alliance