Nelson Caballero Díaz
Date of birth: –
Arrest: October 18, 2024
Detained in: Cerámica Roja Prison, Camagüey, Cuba
Accusation: incitement to commit a crime and assassination attempt
Verdict: So far without a verdict, has been waiting for his trial in pre-trial detention for more than 100 days.

Nelson Caballero Díaz is a young Cuban father of two children from the community of Jimaguayú in the province of Camagüey. Nelson joined neighbours in a peaceful protest against long-lasting power outages on October 18, 2024. As a result, he was arbitrarily arrested by the police and has since been in pre-trial detention without any prospect of trial.

Arrest and conviction

On the day of the protest, Nelson Caballero Díaz was violently arrested by the Cuban police. He was beaten, suffered serious injuries and then had to be treated medically in the provincial hospital of Camagüey. After a short period of inpatient treatment, he was transferred first to the State Security Service and then to the Cerámica Roja prison, where he has been in pre-trial detention ever since. He is accused of inciting the crime and attacking officials with his behaviour – accusations that his family and supporters reject as fabricated and unjust.

Nelson Caballero Díaz has been in custody for over five months without a specific date for a trial being set. He has started a hunger strike to protest his arbitrary detention. He told his wife that he wanted to die rather than remain unjustly imprisoned.

As of March 2025

Contact Nelson Caballero Díaz

Mail to political prisoners is often an effective protection against ill-treatment, because the mail shows prison staff and the authorities that a prisoner is known abroad. The political prisoners are helped by the knowledge that they are not forgotten in the world.

Therefore: Write words of encouragement directly to Nelson Caballero Díaz in the “Cerámica Roja”:

To
Mr/Mrs. Nelson Caballero Díaz
Cerámica Roja
Camagüey
CUBA

Contact the Cuban government

Please write to the President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz Canel, about the Cuban Embassy. Demand the immediate and unconditional release of the prisoner:

Mr President
Miguel Díaz Canel
c/o Embassy of the Republic of Cuba
Stavangerstrasse 20
10439 Berlin

Fax: 030 916 45 53

Sample Letter

Dear Mr. …,

I am writing to draw your attention to the arbitrary detention of the Cuban Nelson Caballero Díaz, who is innocently held in pre-trial detention.
Nelson Caballero Díaz was arrested after taking part in a peaceful demonstration against long-lasting power outages. He is accused of inciting a crime with his behaviour and attacking officers. His family vehemently rejects these accusations.

I appeal to you to release Mr Nelson Caballero Díaz immediately and unconditionally on the grounds of proven innocence. Please protect the citizens’ fundamental rights to freedom of expression.

Thank you for your understanding and I sincerely ask you to inform me of what you are going to do to secure the release of Nelson Caballero Díaz.

Yours faithfully