Cuba’s Crackdown on Independent Journalism: The Cases of Yadiel Hernández and José Gabriel Barrenechea

April 17, 2025 – Cuba – 

In a stark illustration of Cuba’s escalating repression of independent media, freelance journalists Yadiel Hernández and José Gabriel Barrenechea have been detained without trial, highlighting the perilous environment for press freedom on the island.

Hernández, 33, was arrested on January 24, 2025, while investigating drug trafficking in a school in Matanzas for the independent outlet 14ymedio. He is currently held at Combinado del Sur prison, facing charges of “propaganda against the constitutional order,” a vague accusation often employed to silence dissenting voices.

Barrenechea, 53, a physicist and writer, was detained in November 2024 after participating in a peaceful protest in Encrucijada, Villa Clara, against prolonged power outages following Hurricane Rafael. He awaits trial in La Pendiente prison on similar charges, which carry severe penalties. His detention has left his elderly mother, who relies on him for care, in a vulnerable state.

These arrests occur amid the enforcement of Cuba’s new Law of Social Communication, effective since October 2024, which effectively criminalizes journalism outside state-controlled media. This legislation has intensified the government’s campaign against independent journalists, aiming to suppress critical reporting and stifle public discourse.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned these detentions, urging Cuban authorities to release Hernández and Barrenechea immediately. CPJ highlights that such actions are part of a broader strategy to intimidate and silence non-state media, forcing many journalists into exile or self-censorship.

These cases underscore the urgent need for international attention and advocacy to protect press freedom in Cuba. The continued imprisonment of journalists for their reporting not only violates fundamental human rights but also deprives the Cuban populace of access to independent information.

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Two freelance journalists arrested amid Cuba’s ongoing repression of independent press

2 freelance journalists arrested amid Cuba’s ongoing repression of independent press