Jailed Cuban Dissident Wins Norwegian Human Rights Award

By Subaashinee Kupusamy,

20 SEPTEMBER: Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara, a jailed Cuban artist and dissident, has been awarded the prestigious Rafto Prize by a Norwegian human rights foundation for his “fearless opposition to authoritarianism through art.” The 36-year-old, who was sentenced to five years in prison in 2022, has become a symbol of resistance against Cuba’s government. His trial was condemned by human rights organizations as unjust, though Cuban state media labelled it a fair legal process for “common crimes.”

Otero Alcantara was a leading figure in the San Isidro Movement, a collective of Havana-based artists known for their protests challenging government repression and advocating for democracy and human rights. Many of his fellow activists have since fled Cuba, citing government persecution.

The Rafto Prize, awarded annually, seeks to honour individuals or groups who fight for human rights and democracy. Notably, previous winners such as Aung San Suu Kyi and José Ramos-Horta later received the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Rafto Foundation, along with organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, has called for Otero Alcantara’s immediate release. Along with the honour, the prize includes a $20,000 award. The Norwegian Nobel Committee will announce this year’s Peace Prize recipient on October 11 as stated in The Star.