Amnesty International has raised serious concerns about the escalating surveillance and harassment of families of political prisoners in Cuba. The organization highlighted that Cuban authorities are intensifying efforts to control and intimidate these families through a series of oppressive practices that lack legal justification. Reports indicate that relatives of prisoners of conscience are facing police cordons surrounding their homes, restrictions on their movements, and persistent threats.
This pattern of surveillance and intimidation is not isolated, according to Johanna Cilano, Amnesty International’s Caribbean researcher. She notes that constant monitoring of homes, arbitrary short-term detentions, and unjustified restrictions on leaving homes are becoming systematic tactics used by the Cuban state. These measures seem directed at quelling dissent and imposing punitive measures against those who challenge the government’s authority.
Particular alarm was expressed over the health conditions of several detained activists. Notable among them are Loreto Hernández García and Roberto Pérez Fonseca, both suffering from severe chronic illnesses that have reportedly worsened during their imprisonment. Despite prison doctors acknowledging the severity of their health conditions, authorities are delaying their release on medical grounds. Additionally, Félix Navarro Rodríguez remains in prolonged isolation with no available information about his health condition, even after showing symptoms consistent with tuberculosis.
Calls for action have been made by Amnesty International, demanding the immediate release of all prisoners of conscience. The organization is urging Cuban authorities to cease what it describes as authoritarian practices against dissidents and their families. These developments have been reported amidst increasing international attention ([JURIST](https://www.jurist.org/news/2026/02/cuba-escalates-surveillance-harassment-of-political-prisoners-families-amnesty-says/), Amnesty).
The situation in Cuba is reflective of broader concerns about human rights abuses and the lack of freedom of expression in the country. As international organizations continue to pressure the Cuban government, the plight of political prisoners and their families remains a critical human rights issue that demands urgent attention.