A generation determined: How Cuba's Christian influencers have caught the regime off-guard

Young Cubans have become the protagonists of a new revolution. Their weapons: the truth and a mobile phone. Many Christians are among them, motivated by their faith, using social media to challenge decades of state control. It caught the regime off-guard – but was not without retaliation. 

Ernesto is imprisoned. Iván Daniel has fled to Spain. Anna and her mother are under house arrest. David is under surveillance and threatened with reprisals against his children and wife. And it is important to point out that, until these content creators publicly identified with Christianity and its influence in bringing freedom to the country, their posts on social media were tolerated. 

‘Jesus is Lord, not the Communist Party of Cuba.’ Ernesto Ricardo Medina 

‘Neither the Party nor the Cuban government represents me […] I am represented by Christ, who never remained passive in the face of injustice and oppression…’ Anna Bensi 

‘God has been good. He has not failed. We hope we will not fail Him.’ Iván Daniel Calás Navarro 

‘What motivates us to create this Christian content is precisely our faith; […] precisely because we are Christians, we are against injustice, and the Church cannot remain silent.’ Iván Daniel Calás Navarro

Blog 

This is a shortened version of an article published on 6 May 2026. Read it in full at csw.org.uk/blog 

Facts and stats 

In 2025, CSW documented 505 verified cases of violations of freedom of religion or belief in Cuba. 

Find out more at csw.org.uk/cuba