The situation of Mr. José Ernesto Morales Estrada of the organization Consejería Jurídica e Instrucción Cívica was included in the 2018 report of the Secretary-General on allegations of interrogation, threats and travel ban following his engagement with CERD and the Forum on Minority Issues (A/HRC/39/41, Annex I, paras. 22–23). Between 30 September and 3 October 2019, Mr. Morales Estrada participated in meetings in Geneva with representatives of OHCHR, civil society and diplomatic missions, as well as a public event, broadcast live on social media. It was reported to OHCHR that, following his return to Cuba on 15 November 2019, his home was visited by State Security agents attempting to arrest him. They left when he insisted to see an arrest warrant, but he was told to report to the police station the following day where he was informed that he was being investigated following a complaint filed against him. He was informed that he could be detained for up to three days during the investigation phase. 41. On 19 August 2020, the Government responded to the note verbale in connection to the present report stating that the allegations are not only unfounded but are based on fabricated testimonies with motivations outside the cause of human rights. The Government rejected as false the allegations that restrictions or prohibitions on departure from the country apply to Mr. Madrazo Luna and Mr. Morales Estrada. On the contrary, the immigration records show many trips abroad of both individuals during the past few years some of them for participating in international events and meetings in different countries. The allegations of harassment after their return to the national territory from Spain in October 2019 are also false as are the allegations of alleged subpoenas to police units and intimidation by the customs authorities.

36. The case of Mr. José Ernesto Morales Estrada, of Consejería Jurídica e Instrucción Cívica (CJIC), was included in the 2020 and 2018 reports of the Secretary-General143 on allegations of interrogation following his engagement with the UN in Geneva in 2019, and due to threats and a travel ban after his engagement with the CERD and the Forum on Minority Issues in 2017. According to information received by OHCHR, reprisals against Mr. Morales Estrada continue as a consequence of his and the CJIC’s cooperation with various international bodies, including the UN. During the reporting period he has documented and reported to UN human rights mechanisms aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. On 21 May 2020, Mr. Morales Estrada was reportedly violently arrested by police officers. On 23 May 2020, Mr. Morales Estrada and his sister were allegedly physically attacked by a neighbour who identified himself as a state security agent. Since May 2020, Mr. Morales Estrada was reportedly subjected to the arbitrary imposition of fines on thirteen occasions by police agents, allegedly with the aim of hindering his work and intimidating him.
37. On 2 August 2021, the Government responded to the note verbal sent in connection to the present report reiterating that the allegations about acts of reprisals and travel restrictions against Mr. Madrazo Luna, Ms. Tamayo Gonzalez and Mr. Morales Estrada are false. The Government also qualified the allegations of surveillance, harassment and threats by police authorities against Ms. Abascal Sanchez and her spouse as false. It is the view of the Government that in none of the above cases there is a demonstrated link between their cooperation with the UN and the alleged actions against the individuals. The Government firmly rejects of the use of UN human rights mechanisms to channel false allegations with the only aim of tarnishing its human rights record.

58. The case of Mr. José Ernesto Morales Estrada, of Consejería Jurídica e Instrucción Cívica (CJIC), was included in the 2018, 2020 and 2021 reports of the Secretary-General on allegations of threats and a travel ban following his engagement with the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Forum on Minority Issues in 2017, and interrogation following his engagement with the United Nations in Geneva in 2019. In 2020 and 2021, Mr. Morales Estrada was reportedly subjected to the arbitrary imposition of multiple fines by police agents, allegedly with the aim of obstructing his work and intimidating him. According to information received by OHCHR, on 6 February 2022, he was allegedly summoned to the police station and questioned about his travels abroad in January 2022. On 20 May 2022, the police reportedly confiscated Mr. Morales Estrada’s driver’s license due to several unpaid fines which were reportedly arbitrarily imposed (see above). Since that date, Mr. Morales Estrada has reportedly been unable to drive since his license has not been returned.