On Tuesday, November 26, Sulmira Martínez Pérez faced trial in Havana under heavy State Security security, according to reports. Daily Cuba. The trial, which had been suspended three times without explanation, was held in a controlled environment, with a large deployment of officers both inside and outside the court, reflecting the climate of political persecution surrounding this case.
Norma Pérez, Sulmira's mother, reported that at the end of the hearing she was not allowed to say goodbye to her daughter, who was escorted back to prison under strict guard. The prosecution filed serious charges against the 22-year-old, accusing her of "contempt" and "crimes against the constitutional order" due to her social media posts, and requested a ten-year prison sentence. The sentencing is expected next month.
Sulmira has been arbitrarily detained since January 10, 2023, facing multiple violations of her rights, including the lack of due process and a trial without undue delay, as established by the Cuban Constitution and international human rights standards. case It also highlights the systematic criminalization of freedom of expression in Cuba, where any form of criticism, protest or dissent becomes a crime.
The accusations against Sulmira are clearly politically motivated and demonstrate the repression exercised by Cuban authorities, who seek to silence voices denouncing the economic crisis, violence, and widespread decay in the country. Sulmira Martínez Pérez's situation is an alarming example of the serious human rights violations that persist in Cuba and that must be denounced before the international community.