Forcible Closures of Churches in Cuba Spark Greater Concerns
At least three Protestant churches have been forcibly closed in Cuba following ''harsh'' legislations of house churches passed last year, according to a Christian human rights group.
At least three Protestant churches have been forcibly closed in Cuba following “harsh” legislations of house churches passed last year, according to a Christian human rights group.
In the western provinces of Guantanamo and Holguin, two churches were forcibly closed. One of the churches, the Baptist Church of El Recreo, was confiscated by local authorities in August last year and the other, Yamaniguey Baptist Church, was threatened with demolition at the end of last year, Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported.
The Pentecostal Church of Alamar, the third church, in a suburb of Havana, was demolished at the end of last year while church members watched on.
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Authorities accused all three of these churches of being “illegal constructions,” asserting that their actions were justified.
The officials base the premise of their accusation on the new legislations announced last April, Directive 43 and Resolution 46, which required all house churches to register with the authorities.
Church leaders had expressed their concern that the registration requirements were so complicated “as to be practically impossible,” CSW wrote.
“Many believed that this was actually an attempt to shut down the house church movement across the island,” the Christian group explained.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s main concern over the recent closures of the three house churches in Cuba is that they may only be the beginning of a “wave of repression of religious freedom.”
“We learned of these church closures, confiscation and demolition with deep concern,” said Stuart Windsor, National Director of CSW, in a statement released by the group. “We are calling on the international community to strongly discourage the Cuban government from taking any more measures that would restrict the rights of the Cuban people to meet and worship together.”
“In addition,” Windsor added, “we call upon the Cuban government to return those buildings that have already been confiscated, allow for the re-opening of those that have been shut down, and authorize the reconstruction of the church that has already been demolished.”
