Ángel Jesús Véliz marks 32nd birthday in Cuban prison

Ángel Jesús Véliz celebrated his 32nd birthday on August 24 while imprisoned in the Kilo 9 prison in Camagüey, Cuba. This marks his sixth consecutive birthday spent in detention following his participation in the July 11, 2021, anti-government protests.

Véliz was arrested on July 18, 2021, and sentenced to six years for charges of assault and public disorder. His family and human rights organizations, including Cubalex, maintain that his imprisonment is politically motivated. His mother, Ailéx Marcano Fabelo, has described the facility as a “dictatorial dungeon” and noted that while approximately nine months remain on his sentence, he owes nothing to the regime.

Reports indicate Véliz has faced harsh conditions during his incarceration, including over 70 days of solitary confinement in 2022, deprivation of basic items, and medical issues. He has also engaged in hunger strikes in May 2022 and October 2023 to protest his treatment.