In the period October-December 2020, a series of incidents involving government action against the Church has been reported:
- 30 October 2020: An Assemblies of God church located in Santiago de Cuba was demolished by the authorities allegedly to make way for railway development. However, no other property in the immediate vicinity was demolished (Christian Solidarity Worldwide, 12 January 2021). A pastor who denounced the demolition in a Facebook live broadcast was apprehended by the police and held incommunicado for nine hours, along with two other Christians.
- 30 October 2020: "Religious Freedom for Cuba" reported on Facebook that the government was threatening the Viento Recio Church and the Misionera Church in Las Tunas with eviction, with no reasons being given.
- 13 November 2020: "Religious Freedom for Cuba" reported that the Office of Religious Affairs was threatening to demolish a further building belonging to the Assemblies of God located in Santiago de Cuba.
- 18 November 2020: "Religious Freedom for Cuba" reported that the authorities had issued demolition orders for the Assembly of God church in La Palma. Officials from the Housing Ministry gave Pastor Lobaina 24 hours to vacate the church and pastor"s house.
- 21 December 2020: Diario de Cuba reported that the leader of the Christian Youth Movement in Contramaestre was to be tried in court for refusing the obligatory military service. Prior to this, he had already paid a fine and been released. The young Christian has repeatedly expressed his willingness to serve his country in a non-military role.
Rossana Ramirez, persecution analyst at World Watch Research (WWR), explains: "Although Raļl Castro's leadership of the Communist Party is expected to end in 2021, the situation remains difficult for Christians in Cuba. Social media networks have opened up new platforms for discussion and for the communication of information, but the regime continues to impose measures against anyone threatening the stability of the government and is prepared to silence critical voices by force."
Rossana Ramirez adds: "According to the
UN Watch 2020 Report published on 30 December 2020, Cuba ranks seventh in the world list of top human rights abusers. Such reports give added impetus to the
many Christian leaders in Cuba voicing their protest against government abuses and trying to raise awareness of the situation internationally (La Hora de Cuba, 1 November 2020)."
