Resolution on political prisoners in Cuba, in particular the case of Félix Navarro and his daughter Saylí Navarro

The European Parliament adopted by 374 votes to 198, with 19 abstentions, a resolution on political prisoners in Cuba, in particular the case of Félix Navarro and his daughter Saylí Navarro.

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. 304 repressive actions and a historic high of 1 339 political prisoners were documented in August 2026. 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.

72-year-old Félix Navarro, historic dissident and human rights defender, was among the 2003 Black Spring prisoners. His daughter Saylí Navarro co-founded the Sakharov Prizewinning organisation Damas de Blanco. 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.

Félix Navarro was released in January 2025 under an agreement mediated by the Catholic Church, but his release was revoked in April 2025. 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. Both have refused the exile presented as a condition for their release.

Parliament condemned in the strongest terms the Cuban regime’s intensifying repression and systemic human rights violations against political prisoners and their families. It demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Félix Navarro, Saylí Navarro and all other political prisoners.

It also condemned the Cuban regime’s torture and inhuman and degrading ill-treatment of the political prisoners and reminded the authorities of their obligation to guarantee prisoners’ physical safety.

Members expressed grave concern over the deteriorating health of Félix Navarro and called on the regime to guarantee him and all other prisoners immediate, adequate and independent medical care. They reiterated the need for fair trials and the independence of the judiciary and called for the repressive Criminal Code to be repealed.

In the absence of concrete and verifiable steps towards a pluralistic democracy, Parliament reiterated its call for the immediate suspension of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement with Cuba, as well as the application of EU sanctions against those responsible for repression in the country, in particular Miguel Díaz-Canel.