Anna Bensi and mother sentenced in Cuba for filming security agent

A court in Havana has sentenced 21-year-old content creator Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente, known as Anna Bensi, and her mother, Caridad Silvente Laffita, to two years of liberty limitation. The women were found guilty of violating the privacy of a Ministry of the Interior (MININT) agent after recording and sharing a video of the officer visiting their home to deliver a summons.

The judicial process was marked by heavy police presence and reports of internet disruptions. During the proceedings, Pastor Rolando Pérez Lora was reportedly detained by authorities while attempting to attend the trial in solidarity.

Multiple Cuban Protestant denominations, including the Assemblies of God, the Western Cuban Baptist Convention, the Evangelical League of Cuba, and the Methodist Church of Cuba, issued joint statements expressing solidarity with the women. They characterized the prosecution as unjust and called for respect for freedom of expression and conscience. Legal observers have noted that the case reflects a pattern of using criminal law to penalize critical social media expression in Cuba.