Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Cuba

Ethnic Group: Yoruba

Religion or Belief: Santería

Sentence: 8 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: July/15/2021

Date of Release: May/28/2024

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Association Religious Identity

Nature of Charges: Assault & Battery Public Disorder Unlawful Disobedience

Lisdani Rodríguez Isaac

Extra Bio Info:

Lisdani Rodríguez Isaac was imprisoned in relation to her religious identity and activity.

On July 15, 2021, authorities detained Isaac, a member of the Free Yoruba Association of Cuba (Asociación de Yorubas Libres de Cuba, or “Free Yorubas”), an independent Santería community, alongside her twin sister, Lisdiani Rodríguez Isaac, following their peaceful participation in protests on July 11, 2021. Isaac was charged with public disorder, disobedience, and assault.

In September 2021, it was reported that Isaac had been sentenced to ten years in prison; however, additional reporting from January 2022 indicated that she was currently on trial and had not been officially sentenced. Prosecutors were reportedly seeking ten years in prison for Isaac.

In March 2022, it was reported that Isaac had been sentenced to eight years in prison.

On May 28, 2024, Cuban authorities temporarily released Rodríguez, who was six months pregnant at the time and reportedly has a pregnancy-related medical condition that can cause profuse bleeding.  

Related Cases: Donaida Pérez Paseiro, Loreto Hernández García, Elizabeth Cintra García, Lisdiani Rodríguez Isaac

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