They advocate for liberation by Cuban writer José Gabriel Barrenechea so that he can take care of his mother

Nine Cuban civil society organizations have joined the campaign for the liberation of the independent writer and journalist José Gabriel Barrenechea, who has been imprisoned for six months by the Cuban regime, so that he can take care of his mother, a seriously ill old man.

In a statement, organizations alert about the deterioration of the health of Zoila Chávez PérezBarrenechea’s mother, who is 84 years old and suffers from cancer.

Elaine Acosta, Executive Director of Cuido 60 – one of the signatory entities of the document – explained to Martí News the serious situation in which the old woman is.

«Zoila is in a precarious health situation. The document demands the release of José Gabriel so he can take care of his mother,» said Acosta.

Barrenechea, collaborator of the 14ymedio Digital Platform, was arrested on November 8, 2024 for participating in protests against the blackouts in the municipality of Crucijada, in the province of Villa Clara. He is accused of public disorders and has not yet set a trial date.

«The purpose of our request is to amplify the voice of Zoila, who wonders why his son is imprisoned and what he deserved to deserve to be in jail,» said Acosta.

Last week, 21 other organizations for human rights and freedom of the press also issued a joint pronouncement demanding the release of both Barrenechea and the journalist Yadiel Hernández, also a collaborator of 14ymedio.

Hernández was arrested by State Security Agents on January 24 while investigating a case of drug trafficking at a Matanzas school. He currently remains in the combined prison of the South, facing charges for «propaganda against the constitutional order.»