Cuban Dissidents Ferrer, Navarro Arrested After Parole Revocation

Prominent Cuban dissidents José Daniel Ferrer and Félix Navarro, who were released from prison earlier this year under a Vatican-brokered agreement involving the Biden administration, were detained again after Cuban authorities revoked their parole for allegedly violating its terms. The Cuban Supreme Court claimed Ferrer failed to attend court hearings and Navarro left his locality without judicial approval, actions which authorities say breached their release conditions. Both men were taken into custody during police operations at their homes, with Ferrer's wife, son, and several activists also reportedly detained and their whereabouts unknown. Human rights organizations and U.S. officials have condemned the arrests as part of a broader crackdown on dissent, with the U.S. State Department calling for their immediate release and denouncing Havana's treatment of political prisoners. The Cuban government maintains that the detentions are lawful responses to legal violations, while critics argue they are politically motivated and represent ongoing repression of opposition voices. These developments have heightened diplomatic tensions between the United States and Cuba.