Death of Cuban Political Prisoner Sparks Demands for Independent Investigation

Manuel de Jesús Guillén Esplugas, jailed after 2021 protests, died under disputed circumstances in a Havana prison.

Manuel de Jesús Guillén Esplugas, a 29-year-old political prisoner, died in Combinado del Este prison, with Cuban authorities claiming suicide and his family alleging murder by beating.
Guillén's death marks the third confirmed case of a protester from the July 2021 demonstrations dying in custody, with 554 related detainees still imprisoned, according to human rights groups.
Family members and NGOs reported evidence of torture, including bruises and marks on Guillén's body, contradicting the official narrative of suicide by hanging.
Cuban prisons face criticism for secrecy and lack of accountability, with independent investigations into detainee deaths deemed nearly impossible by legal experts and rights organizations.
International attention has grown, with U.S. officials and human rights groups calling for the Cuban government to release political prisoners and ensure transparency in detention conditions.