Protestant pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo of the Monte de Sion Church in Palma Sariano appeared in court in December on charges of “disrespect”, “assault”, “criminal incitement”, and “public disorder”. Following his participation in a peaceful protest July of last year.
His family learned of the verdict only after it was communicated in a letter from the Cuban government to the Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations, in response to a request for information about the pastor by five UN human rights officials.
Among the allegations purporting to justify the pastor’s arrest, the government in its letter claims that on 11 July, 2021, Fajardo took part in a violent attack on “law enforcement officers and attempted to forcibly enter the municipal headquarters of the Cuba Communist Party in Palma Soriano”, injuring seven officials and one civilian.
Religious freedom advocacy group CSW, called the accusations baseless. “Live footage and photos…how armed police officers and members of the Black Beret paramilitary force attacking unarmed, peaceful protesters in the middle of the street, with Reverend Rosales Fajardo shown being held in a chokehold,” it said.
Like many church leaders, pastor Fajardo joined nationwide peaceful protests that saw thousands of people calling for democracy and economic reforms.
The repercussions were immediate and violent. Police and security beat up protestors and arrested hundreds of people, among them many pastors.
Fajardo’s wife, Maridilegnis Carballo, learned of the verdict and the letter only after it was sent to the country’s representation in Geneva. “I don’t know if I can bear so much injustice and so many lies,” she told CSW. “How painful to see the disgraceful condition of the government of this nation.”
The initial prison sentence mentioned in the letter to the Geneva Mission was eight years, but the Cuban government later contacted the Fajardo’s family to confirm the reduced sentence of seven years.
After a decade of absence, Cuba returned this year to the Open Doors World Watch list of 50 countries where it is most difficult to live as a Christian.
The re-entry at No. 37 was mostly because “the dictatorial regime intensified its action against all Christian leaders and activists opposing Communist principles, especially after the widespread demonstrations which occurred in July 2021,” Open Doors’ World Watch Research analysts said.
Prayer
Please pray for Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo, that he may find rest in God during this time, and let him not grow weary. Pray for his family as the government doesn’t seem to share much information. Pray that even within the unknown they have miraculous peace.