Freedom Now welcomes the release of sisters Lisdiani and Dani Rodríguez Isaac from wrongful detention in Cuba. The two women were sentenced to eight years in prison for participating in a peaceful protest in July 2021. Although Dani had been released temporarily for medical reasons in September 2024, she was set to return to prison in May 2025 to serve the remainder of her sentence.
“We are grateful that Lisdiani and Dani Rodríguez Isaac have been released after more than three and a half years of wrongful detention,” said Freedom Now Legal Officer Adam Lhedmat. “Their imprisonment was emblematic of Cuba’s intolerance of freedom of expression and assembly. And their incarceration provided a disturbing example of the how women face unique health dangers while imprisoned. We call on the Cuban government fully vacate their conviction and ensure that Lisdiani and Dani face no further harassment.”
On July 11, 2021, a series of widespread protests began in Cuba, targeted at the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shortage of food and medicine. Lisdiani, Dani, and their mother, Barbarita Isaac along with approximately half of the residents of Placetas, also joined the protests. Lisdiani and Dani joined a large group of peaceful protestors chanting slogans voicing their frustration with the living conditions in Cuba. After some time, officers of the Ministry of Interior were deployed to dispel protestors, at which point, Lisdiani and Dani left the protests.
Several days later, Lisdiani and Dani were detained and each charged with public disorder, contempt and two counts of assault for their participation in the protests. The two sisters immediately denounced the charges, asserting that, although they were present at the protests, their behavior was peaceful and they did not attack anyone.
Lisdiani and Dani were tried alongside 14 other defendants from Placetas who participated in the July 11 protests. The 16 defendants mostly faced similar charges related to public disorder, attacking, and contempt. Of the 16 co-defendants, four were members of the Free Yorubas, including both the President and Vice-President of the group.
At trial, the government alleged that Lisdiani and Dani, along with the other demonstrators, pulled away two officers of the Ministry of the Interior who were trying to detain an opposition group. They also allegedly assaulted a government supporter and a counter-intelligence officer. Eyewitnesses refuted these accounts, and the Government failed to present any physical evidence of injuries to sustain the allegations of violence. Ignoring this defense, the court sentenced Lisdiani and Dani to eight years in prison. They were then transferred to Guamajal Prison to serve their sentences.
In late January 2024, Dani learned that she was pregnant following a conjugal visit with her partner at the end of 2023. After an initial medical visit diagnosing the pregnancy, prison officials at Guamajal Prison failed to provide pre-natal medical care or other accommodation for her pregnancy. On May 28, 2024, authorities granted Dani conditional release from prison for a period of one year, allowing her to carry her pregnancy to term outside of prison. Dani gave birth in September 2024. The terms of Dani’s temporary release order extended until May 25, 2025, at which point she would have been legally obligated to return to prison to serve the remainder of her sentence.