Cuban Christian detained twice in 4 months after investigating religious freedom violations

Christian Ricardo Fernandez Izaguirre handed himself in to Camagüey police on Tuesday after receiving a verbal summons from the authorities.

According to reports from local journal ‘La Hora de Cuba,’ family members and friends gathered outside the station after hearing nothing from him since he was placed in custody.

Officers told the group Izaguirre was being investigated and would be held incommunicado for four days but refused to give any further information on his detainment or his well-being.

When Izaguirre’s wife, Yusleysi Gil Mauricio, entered the station to ask about the charges against him, she was reportedly “threatened and insulted” by three state agents, and told her husband would be “judged for being a counter-revolutionary”.

Izaguirre who has documented over 60 violations of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) this year, was previously detained for four days in July, after meeting with members of the Ladies in White movement – who have been forcibly detained and prevented from attending church services and other religious activities by state authorities.

Speaking to freedom chairty Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) after the incident, Izaguirre reported that he was “freed without any explanation – just as they had arrested me”.

Government attacks on FoRB and pressure on religious leaders have increased significantly since the adoption of a new…