Lizandra Góngora
Lizandra Góngora | |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | Cuba |
| Known for | Participation in the 2021 Cuban protests |
Criminal charges | sabotage, robbery with force, and public disorder |
Criminal penalty | 14 years' imprisonment |
Criminal status | Detained |
| Spouse | Ángel Delgado Almira |
| Children | 5 |
Lizandra Góngora Espinosa is a Cuban human rights activist. After participating in the 2021 Cuban protests, she was arrested and sentenced to 14 years in prison, the longest sentence given to a woman as a result of the protests.
Biography
2021 Cuban protests
Góngora is married to Ángel Delgado Almira, with whom she has five children. The family live in Güira de Melena, a municipality in Artemisa Province.[1][2][3]
In July 2021, a series of protests broke out across Cuba against the Cuban government and the Communist Party of Cuba, triggered by a shortage of food and medicine in the country; the protests also were seen as a response to the authoritarian regime in the country and the government's curtailing of civil liberties, in addition to its failure to fulfil promised reforms of Cuba's economy and political system. Góngora was arrested after taking part in a protest outside of an MLC store in Güira de Melena, where protesters had demanded that donated food be made available.[4]
At Góngora's trial, prosecutors alleged that she had led the protests and the storming of the MLC shop; Góngora claimed that she had joined the gathering and had subsequently fled after being injured in the leg during a clash between protesters and the authorities.[4] Góngora was found guilty of "sabotage, robbery with force, and public disorder", and was sentenced to 14 years in prison; this marked the longest sentence given to a female protester as a result of the crackdown on the July 2021 protests.[1][2][5]
Imprisonment
In September 2022, Góngora and fellow prisoners María Cristina Garrido and Ángela Garrido started a hunger strike in prison, demanding their freedom and their right to not wear prison uniforms. As a result of the strike, Góngora was subsequently hospitalised and required medical treatment.[4] In February 2023, Góngora's husband Delgado reported that Cuban authorities had threatened to "revoke" his custody of his children and imprison him if he continued to speak out about Góngora's detention.[3]
In March 2023, Góngora was among 11 political prisoners who signed an open letter calling on Miguel Díaz-Canel, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and the President of Cuba, to release political prisoners from Cuban prisons. The letter, which the women signed with their blood, cited comments made by Pope Francis's emissary, Beniamino Stella, who stated that the Pope "very much [hoped] that there [would] be a positive response" from Cuban authorities concerning the freedom from detention of political prisoners.[6][7][8] The following month, Góngora was temporarily relocated to Los Colonos prison on the Isla de la Juventud for three months, which was seen as an attempt to isolate her from her family following the publication of the open letter.[3]
In May 2023, the Cuban Resistance Assembly announced an initiative wherein 137 women with "public impact" in Latin America would be paired to 137 female political prisoners in Cuba as symbolic godmothers. Góngora was paired with Martha Evelyn Batres, the head of the Women's Network, a Salvadoran women's group, who said she "championed [Góngora's] fight for fredom".[9]
Góngora was transferred to Los Colonos for a second time in April 2026, a considerable distance from her family in Güira de Melena.[3][5] The Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and the Press reported that prison authorities had threatened that Góngora could be transferred to prisons further afield in Pinar del Río or Guantánamo if she continued to publicly request to be brought closer to Güira de Melena.[10]
In April 2026, the Cuban non-governmental organisation Cubalex reported that Góngora had been denied treatment for sickle cell anaemia and a uterine fibroid while in prison.[11] That month, she took part in a second hunger and thirst strike in response to a lack of medical care, poor conditions, including being harassed and assaulted, and prolonged isolation from her family since being in prison; as well as in response to Miguel Díaz-Canel's public denial of the existence of political prisoners in Cuba, which her husband added was to "demand respect" for her status as a political prisoner.[5][12] After her strike, she was transferred to an isolation cell.[12]
Góngora remains in prison as of July 2026.[13]
Response
Cubalex called on the Cuban government to allow Góngora to have access to medical treatment and regular contact with her family, describing her transfer to Los Colonos as being in contravention of the Nelson Mandela rules and the Bangkok rules that establish that prisoners, particularly women with children, should be detained close to their families.[5] The Chargé d'affaires of the Embassy of the United States in Cuba, Mike Hammer, said in a telephone call with Góngora's husband Delgado said that the United States and the administration of Donald Trump were "concerned" about the situation of Góngora and other political prisoners in Cuba, and that they would continue to "insist" she be released.[3]
In May 2025, Góngora was awarded the Graciela Fernández Meijide Award for the Defence of Human Rights from the Centre for the Opening and Development of Latin America, alongside fellow Cuban activist Alexander Fábregas. Also awarded were Nicaraguan activist Nancy Elizabeth Rodríguez and Venezuelan journalist Carlos Julio Rojas.[2]
References
- 1 2 "Comido por las chinches en prisión, Jonathan Muir clama: "papá, sácame de aquí, ya no puedo más"" [Eaten alive by bedbugs in prison, Jonathan Muir cries out: “Dad, get me out of here, I can’t take it anymore”]. 14ymedio (in Spanish). 23 April 2026. Archived from the original on 24 June 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Dos presos políticos cubanos premiados en Argentina por su defensa de los Derechos Humanos" [Two Cuban political prisoners awarded in Argentina for their defence of Human Rights]. 14ymedio. 21 May 2025. Archived from the original on 25 June 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "The U.S. highlights the impact of Lisandra Góngora's imprisonment on her family". CiberCuba. 29 April 2026. Archived from the original on 13 July 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Hospitalizada y "muy débil", una de las presas 'plantadas' del 11J en Cuba" [Hospitalized and "very weak", one of the prisoners 'planted' on 11J in Cuba]. 14ymedio (in Spanish). 30 September 2022. Archived from the original on 25 June 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "La presa política Lizandra Góngora depone su huelga de hambre y sed" [Political prisoner Lizandra Góngora ends her hunger and thirst strike]. 14ymedio (in Spanish). 24 April 2026. Archived from the original on 24 June 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Presas políticas firman con sangre carta a Díaz-Canel: reafirman "sacrificio y entrega a la causa cubana"" [Political prisoners sign letter to Díaz-Canel in blood: reaffirming “sacrifice and dedication to the Cuban cause”]. ADN Cuba (in Spanish). 1 March 2023. Archived from the original on 4 November 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Lizandra Góngora denuncia represalia contra presas políticas que firmaron carta a Díaz-Canel con sangre" [Lizandra Góngora denounces reprisals against political prisoners who signed a letter to Díaz-Canel in blood]. ADN Cuba (in Spanish). 3 March 2023. Archived from the original on 4 November 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Enviado del papa Francisco pide "libertad" en Cuba para presos políticos del 11J" [Pope Francis' envoy calls for "freedom" in Cuba for political prisoners of the 11J attacks]. ADN Cuba (in Spanish). 8 February 2023. Archived from the original on 14 November 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Personalidades extranjeras amadrinan presas cubanas del 11J en una lista de 137 mujeres" [Foreign personalities sponsor Cuban women imprisoned after the 11J attacks, among a list of 137 women] (in Spanish). 26 May 2023. Archived from the original on 25 June 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Presa política Lizandra Góngora podría ser trasladada a una prisión más alejada" [Political prisoner Lizandra Góngora could be transferred to a more distant prison]. Instituto Cubano por la Libertad de Expresión y Prensa (in Spanish). 20 July 2023. Archived from the original on 13 July 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ "Prisionera política Lizandra Góngora inicia huelga de hambre y sed como protesta a años de represión" [Political prisoner Lizandra Góngora begins hunger and thirst strike to protest years of repression]. Cubalex (in Spanish). 23 April 2026. Archived from the original on 10 July 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Cuba". U.S. Department of State. 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ Goebertus Estrada, Juanita (10 July 2026). "Five Years On, Hundreds of Cuban Protesters Still Behind Bars". Human Rights Watch. Archived from the original on 12 July 2026. Retrieved 13 July 2026.