Cuba: government bans exiled journalist from returning to island
Cuban Karla Pérez was expelled in 2017 from Villa Clara University for belonging to the Somos mas opposition movement, and for being considered “counter-revolutionary”.
She then went to Costa Rica to complete her journalism studies.
While she decides to return to the country, the Cuban government refuses to let her return.
Here, upon his arrival at Juan Santamaria International Airport on March 18, 2021. AFP - EZEQUIEL BECERRA
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Cuba has the right to defend itself, this is how the government of Havana justifies the refusal of entry into the territory of a young Cuban journalist.
The case of Karla Perez has been shaking the web since Thursday, March 18.
After several years of study abroad, she has just been banned from returning to her own country on the grounds that she was returning to Cuba for the purpose of political subversion.
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With our correspondent in Havana
,
Domitille Piron
Cuba turns its opponents into stateless people.
The case of Karla Perez is emblematic: the young Cuban was expelled in 2017 from the University of Villa Clara for her membership in the Somos Mas opposition movement and for being considered "
counter-revolutionary
".
She then went to Costa Rica to complete her journalism studies.
At 22, this young graduate, after four years away from her family, decides to come back to the country.
But that was without counting the refusal of the Cuban government to let her return.
While all her papers are in order, this decision is very political and the young woman was forced to seek asylum in Costa Rica.
Government sends clear message to Cuban opponents
The wave of indignation provoked on social networks forced the Cuban government to react and justify this decision.
"
It is an instrument used for purposes of destabilization and to carry out illegal actions against Cuba,"
explains Yaira Jiménez Roig, communications director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
.
Now she wishes to resettle in the country for the purpose of subversion.
But in Cuba, we have migration laws, and like all other countries, we have the right to defend ourselves.
"
The government denounces a media circus around this whole affair.
But this precedent sends a clear message to Cuban opponents, to whom state security regularly offers to take the path of exile.
If they leave, they take the risk of not being able to return to the island.
►
To read: Cuba: the Communist Party at war against ideological “subversion” on the internet
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