128 convicted and 1,916 years in prison in total: the breakdown of the sentences of the Cuban dictatorship to the 11J protesters

According to the NGO Prisoners Defenders, among those convicted are seven young people aged 16 and 17, who have been sentenced to between 7 and 19 years in prison

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Fotografía de archivo fechada el 11 de julio de 2021. Un grupo de personas responden a manifestantes frente al capitolio de Cuba en La Habana, en una fotografía de archivo. EFE/Ernesto Mastrascusa
Fotografía de archivo fechada el 11 de julio de 2021. Un grupo de personas responden a manifestantes frente al capitolio de Cuba en La Habana, en una fotografía de archivo. EFE/Ernesto Mastrascusa

The Cuban dictatorship sentenced 128 people to a total of 1,916 years in prison for events related to the anti-government protests of July 11 in Havana. It's about 15 years of sentence on average.

Of that total, two Cubans were sentenced to 30 years in prison, one to 26 years, three to 25, eight to 23, three to 22, another three to 21 years, 11 to 20 years in prison, four to 19 and 11 to 18.

The breakdown is completed by six citizens sentenced to 16 years in prison, nine to 15, 10 to 14, six to 13 years, 17 to 12, five to 11, 10 to 10 years, four Cubans to 9, eight to eight years, four to seven and another two to six years.

These are all final prison sentences for protesters in La Güinera and Toyo's corner in Havana.

The Supreme Court of the Republic reported in a press release six judgments concerning the events that occurred in the capital municipalities of Diez de Octubre and Arrojo Naranjo, where some of the most violent incidents of the demonstrations that day took place, which were generally peaceful.

Sentences for 11J protesters in Cuba

In fact, the only officially recognized death in these protests occurred in La Güinera (Arroyo Naranjo), where a man was shot dead by a policeman.

The trial of the Provincial People's Court of Havana, held between 14 December and 3 February, involved 129 accused, of whom 128 have been convicted.

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The 11J demonstrations in Havana against the Cuban regime (REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini)

A total of 127 have received prison sentences - between 6 and 30 years - and one person received a sentence of 4 years “of correctional labour without internment”. Only one defendant was acquitted.

The Supreme Court's note did not refer to ages. According to the NGO Prisoners Defenders, among those convicted there are seven young people aged 16 and 17, who have received sentences of between 7 and 19 years of imprisonment, and another, who received the sentence of corrective labor.

In Cuba, the minimum age of criminal responsibility is 16 years. The Penal Code (article 17.1) provides for the possibility of halving the sentences of persons aged 16 and 17.

The defendants, mainly investigated for sedition and theft, were accused of “serious disturbances and vandalism, with the aim of destabilizing public order, collective security and citizen tranquility,” according to the Supreme Court.

(With information from EFE)

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