Wed Apr 30 00:53:28 UTC 2025: **Cuba Rearrests Prominent Dissidents Despite Papal Deal**

HAVANA, CUBA – Cuba’s Supreme Court has ordered the re-arrest of two prominent dissidents, José Daniel Ferrer and Félix Navarro, sparking international condemnation. The arrests, authorized on Tuesday, come just months after their release under a deal brokered by Pope Francis. The court cited violations of parole conditions, claiming Ferrer and Navarro engaged in “public calls for disorder,” online criticism of the government, and maintained contact with the US embassy.

Ferrer and Navarro were among 553 prisoners released earlier this year as part of a broader agreement that saw the US briefly remove Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. This action, undertaken by President Biden, was quickly reversed upon President Trump’s inauguration. Despite Cuba’s fulfillment of its end of the bargain, the government now claims the two dissidents violated their parole.

The US State Department strongly condemned the arrests, citing the “brutal treatment” of Ferrer, his wife, and son, as well as Navarro and other activists. The statement underscored the US Embassy’s continued support for Cuban human rights advocates.

Ferrer, a vocal critic of the Cuban government and founder of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), had previously rejected the terms of his release, arguing his imprisonment was unjust. He had openly questioned the sincerity of the Vatican-brokered deal, characterizing it as a publicity stunt.

The timing of the re-arrests, coming shortly after the death of Pope Francis, has raised concerns that the Cuban government is reneging on its commitments. The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights accused the government of betraying the Pope’s wishes. Ferrer’s sister reported that UNPACU headquarters were looted and other activists were also detained. While his wife and son were later released, the whereabouts of other detainees remain unknown. The arrests highlight the ongoing tension between the Cuban government and its dissidents, and underscore the complex political landscape surrounding Cuba’s human rights record.

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