On Sunday, the Cuban political prisoner Luis Barrios Diaz passed away at the La Covadonga hospital in Havana due to medical negligence by the prison authorities. The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH) reported this unfortunate incident and stated that Barrios Díaz, who was 37 years old, began experiencing respiratory issues in August and was admitted to the infirmary of prison 1580 in San Miguel del Padrón, Havana. Despite doctors advising him to remain hospitalized for further treatment, he was transferred to the La Covadonga hospital for specialized care.
The OCDH called for the immediate release of all political prisoners and pointed out the deteriorating health of other political prisoners such as Félix Navarro and José Daniel Ferrer. The organization also requested statements from democratic governments and the European Union regarding the serious situation of political prisoners in Cuba, emphasizing the responsibility of the state to provide adequate medical services to prisoners.
Barrios Díaz was previously sentenced to nine years in prison for participating in the historic protests of July 11, 2021. His death highlights the dangers faced by political prisoners in Cuba and underscores the need for their immediate release.
The OCDH has documented numerous cases of human rights violations against political prisoners in Cuba, including denial of medical care and arbitrary detention. The organization has called on Cuba’s government to respect international human rights standards and release all political prisoners immediately.
As a journalist covering this story, it is important to remember that Barrios Díaz’s death is not an isolated incident but part of a larger pattern of human rights abuses against political prisoners in Cuba. It is crucial that democratic governments take action to hold Cuba accountable for its actions and demand justice for those who have been wronged.
