Cubalex received information regarding the situation of political prisoner Ibrahim Domínguez Aguilar, held in Boniato prison, Santiago de Cuba. They were informed that criminal proceedings have been opened against him for the crimes of “disorders in penitentiary establishments” y “injuries”, in a context marked by previous attacks, reprisals and an evident lack of protection by the State.
These new crimes do not arise from an isolated incident, but are a direct consequence of the beating he received on October 31, 2025, when three common inmates violently attacked him because "Ibrahim was speaking ill of the Revolution.".
An orchestrated beating and a fabricated accusation
According to reports sent to Cubalex, three common inmates brutally beat Ibrahim while prison officers watched without intervening. His family and internal sources point to Major Humberto Garcés Tassé, head of Internal Order, as directly responsible for ordering the attack.
During the attack, Ibrahim tried to defend himself. However, prison authorities are now seeking to frame him for the violence he suffered, charging him with "assault" in connection with his self-defense.
The beating The attack left him with a four-stitch wound on his forehead, bruising on his face, and other injuries that required his transfer to the prison's medical center, where he did not receive adequate medical attention. His mother reported that she was even prevented from seeing him after the assault, a practice that increases the risk of cruel treatment and his vulnerability within the prison.
The situation is further aggravated by the actions of the Military Prosecutor's Office in Santiago de Cuba, which ignored the request submitted by Ibrahim's mother for an investigation into the beating. Despite the seriousness of the events, no investigation into the assault was opened.
This omission is not an isolated incident, but part of a broader pattern in which:
- prison officials allow or promote attacks against political prisoners;
- Common prisoners are used as instruments of pressure and punishment;
- And state institutions cover up, justify, or normalize these violations, instead of ensuring justice.
A sustained pattern of violence against Ibrahim
Ibrahim's situation is not new. Independent media and international organizations have documented it. previous attacks against him.
- In April 2024, he reported another brutal beating inside the same prison when he asked for medical attention. He was handcuffed, thrown to the ground, and punched in the head while a guard pressed his boot against his face.
- In 2022, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) granted precautionary measures in his favor, recognizing that his life and integrity were at serious risk due to the conditions of confinement and the constant state abuses.
Ibrahim Domínguez Aguilar is serving a 10-year sentence for his peaceful participation in the July 11, 2021 protests in Contramaestre, Santiago de Cuba. His case reflects a widespread pattern in the Cuban prison system: those who protest or denounce abuses are punished with physical violence, denial of benefits, harsher prison conditions, isolation, new charges without legal basis, and a constant climate of fear and harassment.
The duty of the State and the urgency of the complaint
The Cuban state, as the entity responsible for the custody of all persons deprived of their liberty, has the legal obligation to guarantee their life, physical integrity, medical care, and access to justice. The attacks suffered by Ibrahim and the lack of investigation into them constitute clear violations of these duties.
Opening a new criminal case against him, while covering up abuses committed by prison officials, is incompatible with basic due process standards and with the international obligations assumed by Cuba.
Cubalex will continue to document and denounce this case and all violations against people deprived of their liberty in the country, especially those directed against protesters on July 11 and other political prisoners.