Political prisoners in Cuba, in particular the case of Félix Navarro and his daughter Saylí Navarro

European Parliament resolution of 17 September 2026 on political prisoners in Cuba, in particular the case of Félix Navarro and his daughter Saylí Navarro (2026/2874(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to its previous resolutions on Cuba,

–having regard to Rule 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the Cuban regime’s crackdown is intensifying through its campaign of repression, arbitrary detention, torture, surveillance, harassment and persecution of activists, independent journalists, religious leaders and their families;

B. whereas 72-year-old Félix Navarro, historic dissident, human rights defender and founder of the Pedro Luis Boitel Party for Democracy, was among the 2003 Black Spring prisoners; whereas his daughter Saylí Navarro co-founded the Sakharov Prize-winning organisation Damas de Blanco; whereas they are serving 9- and 8-year sentences respectively for enquiring about the fate of those arrested after the historic demonstrations of 11 July 2021;

C. whereas Félix Navarro was released in January 2025 under an agreement mediated by the Catholic Church, but his release was revoked in April 2025;

D. whereas Félix Navarro, who suffers from diabetes and chronic respiratory illnesses aggravated by years of imprisonment and ill-treatment, was severely beaten by prison guards in April 2026 and then isolated; whereas both have refused the exile presented as a condition for their release;

E. whereas 304 repressive actions and a historic high of 1 339 political prisoners, including 155 women and 38 minors, were documented in August 2026; whereas 463 of these political prisoners have serious physical illnesses and 54 have severe mental disorders, but are being denied adequate medical care;

F. whereas the regime systematically resorts to forced exile and threatens family separation as a tool of repression, while making release conditional on accepting expulsion from the country;

1. Condemns in the strongest terms the Cuban regime’s intensifying repression and systemic human rights violations against political prisoners and their families;

2. Demands the immediate and unconditional release of Félix Navarro, Saylí Navarro and all other political prisoners;

3. Condemns the Cuban regime’s torture and inhuman and degrading ill-treatment of the political prisoners; reminds the authorities of their obligation to guarantee prisoners’ physical safety;

4. Expresses grave concern over the deteriorating health of Félix Navarro and calls on the regime to guarantee him and all other prisoners immediate, adequate and independent medical care;

5. Reiterates the need for fair trials and the independence of the judiciary and calls for the repressive Criminal Code to be repealed;

6. Condemns forced exile as a tool of coercion, and calls on the regime to guarantee every prisoner the right to remain in, and return to, their own country without preconditions;

7. Reiterates its call to activate the human rights clause of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement and immediately suspend the agreement in the absence of concrete, verifiable steps by the regime towards multiparty democracy and the release of all political prisoners;

8. Reiterates its demand to apply sanctions, under the EU Magnitsky Act, against those responsible for the repression in Cuba, starting with Miguel Díaz-Canel;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Council, the Commission and the Cuban regime.