Cuba: Journalist Iliana Hernández threatened with draconian Decree 370

CUBA, Havana, January 29, 2020 — Cuban journalist and activist Iliana Hernández has been charged with “receiving stolen property” and threatened with the oppressive Decree 370. The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands that Cuban authorities drop the charges against her. We also condemn the raid conducted on Iliana’s home, after which she was summoned at the police station on January 13. Our colleague should be allowed to report freely, without fear of being persecuted.

Agents of the National Revolutionary Police and Cuban Intelligence Directorate stormed inside CiberCuba’s contributor and reporter’s house on January 8, looking for “items of doubtful origins”. They confiscated all of her equipment including her computer, tripod, cell phone, a broken hard disk, USB and TV antennas. During the raid, the agents also took documents containing complaints Iliana filed with the prosecutor for arbitrary police practices.

We are angered to learn about the way Iliana was treated by the agents and urge authorities to stop threatening journalists for doing their job. We have observed a pattern where public officers in Cuba intimidate and legally prosecute journalists, and this must come to an end.

The agents gave Iliana a copy of the court order that summoned her to appear before the police on January 13. The agents also informed her about the criminal charges placed on her, which according to the Cuban penal code, were related to the illegal possession of goods and could land inside the prison for a year. Iliana was arrested after the police search but was later released that day on 1,000 Cuban pesos bail, her equipment was not returned. She is still struggling to hire a lawyer to defend her in court.

Despite the awful treatment meted out to her, Iliana is still determined to work fearlessly in the face of threats. “They cannot force me to agree with a totalitarian system that abuses power, humiliates, mistreats and enslaves the Cuban people,” she said.

She appeared at the police station on January 13 and provided documents to prove her ownership of the equipment and its lawful purchase. But the agents refused to accept her papers. Iliana was then taken to an inspector from the Ministry of Communications, who further threatened her with a fine for breaching Decree 370 - a law that criminalizes disseminating “information contrary to the social interest, morals, good manners and integrity of people” on public networks.

This is an absolutely unacceptable scenario where a woman journalist is being intimidated with legal threats. It is the responsibility of the Cuban authorities to ensure the provision of justice to our colleague who has not committed any crime. All the equipment that she possesses is, in fact, her own.

We find it abysmal that Iliana has reached out to the provincial and municipal prosecutors’ offices to inquire about her case and has not received a response. She has no idea about when she is to appear in court and remains uncertain about her future.

The website, for which Iliana has been reporting since December 2018, has been blocked by Cuban authorities; but readers access the CiberCuba via proxies. Her work is largely focused on crime, corruption allegations and community. She also hosts a live-stream program on the website’s Facebook page offering commentary on the news. Following her Spanish citizenship, Iliana has also informed the Spanish consulate about her ordeal.

This biased and dangerous approach of law enforcement agencies only shows the state’s attempt to stifle press freedom and target journalists, especially women journalists, using legal tactics.

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The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world, and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

Follow us on Instagram @womeninjournalism and Twitter @CFWIJ. Our website is WomenInJournalism.org and we can be reached at press@womeninjournalism.org