Gender: Female
Current Location: Guamajal Prison, Villa Clara
Perpetrator: Cuba
Ethnic Group: Yoruba
Religion or Belief: Santería
Sentence: 8 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: July/15/2021
Current Status: Not 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
Lisdiani Rodríguez Isaac is 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, Lisdani 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.
Isaac is currently being held in Guamajal Prison.
Related Cases: Donaida Pérez Paseiro, Loreto Hernández García, Elizabeth Cintra García, Lisdani Rodríguez Isaac
Photo used with permission from Global Liberty Alliance
USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom Conditions in Cuba December 2022
"'Exijo libertad, que se haga justicia', dice la madre de dos gemelas encarceladas por protestar el 11J" Diario de Cuba
"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