Miami (September 18, 2026) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) condemned the detention of independent journalist Henry Constantín, director of La Hora de Cuba and regional vice president of its Press and Information Freedom Commission for Cuba. Constantín has been detained since September 16 in Camagüey and is being investigated for the alleged offense of “disobedience.”
According to La Hora de Cuba, Constantín was taken to Villa María Luisa, an operations and interrogation center of Cuba’s State Security, after appearing for a police summons. Authorities allege that he failed to appear on time for a previous summons on September 9. The investigation could result in bail, house arrest, or pretrial detention.
IAPA President Pierre Manigault called for his release. “The detention of Henry Constantín constitutes another serious episode of harassment against the independent press in Cuba. An accusation of ‘disobedience’ cannot be turned into a tool to intimidate and silence a journalist. Cuban authorities must release him and put an end to this persecution,” said Manigault, of Evening Post Publishing Inc., in Charleston, South Carolina, United States.
Martha Ramos, chair of IAPA’s Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information, said the arrest adds to a history of measures against the journalist. “The summonses, detentions, surveillance, and house arrests targeting Constantín are part of a pattern of pressure aimed at obstructing his journalistic work. IAPA calls for an immediate end to the harassment and guarantees that he can practice his profession without reprisals,” said Ramos, of Organización Editorial Mexicana (OEM).
Constantín was previously detained in June 2025 and taken to Villa María Luisa, where he was held for four days. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) documented his detention at the time for the alleged offense of “contempt” related to a publication about the actions of a State Security agent.
IAPA called on Cuban authorities to immediately provide information about Constantín’s legal situation, guarantee his rights, and end intimidation measures against independent journalists.
The IAPA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and freedom of expression in the Americas. It comprises more than 1,300 media outlets across the Western Hemisphere and is headquartered in Miami, Florida, United States.
