World Poetry Day 2026: Take Action for Duannis León Taboada (Cuba)
This clash of thoughts
dims the senses
and the soul’s future breath.
It’s your choice to grow your awareness.
To save the fragile weight
of temptation’s delicate hold,
the bend within the crystal lens
a brittle glass of our modern age.
We are what no eye can grasp.
Root yourself to save life’s core.
“Awakening”, from the Despertar Tetralogy, in the unpublished collection Poemas by Duannis León Taboada, currently being edited by Veril (Observatorio de Derechos Culturales).
21 March 2026: Cuban poet Duannis Dabel León Taboada is serving a 14-year prison sentence following his participation in the July 2021 protests in Cuba. Arrested at just 22 years old, he was convicted on charges of “sedition,” widely used to punish those who express dissent. He is currently detained at Combinado del Este prison in Havana, where he is allegedly being subjected to violence, inadequate conditions and lack of adequate medical care.
PEN International is deeply concerned about León Taboada’s continued imprisonment, his health, and the risks he faces in detention. We call on the Cuban authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally, and to guarantee his safety, dignity, and access to proper medical care while he remains detained.
Take action with us on World Poetry Day 2026.
How you can help:
Advocacy
Call for Duannis León Taboada’s immediate and unconditional release and for safeguards to ensure his well-being in detention.
Contact your Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic representatives in Cuba, urging them to raise case in bilateral and multilateral forums.
Send appeals to:
President Sr. Miguel Díaz-Canel:
Email: [email protected]
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Minrex) Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla:
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Facebook: @CubaMINREX
Solidarity
Send him a message of solidarity. Your words can offer strength.
Please include a Spanish translation of your message (e.g. using Google Translate).
Social Media
Raise awareness about his case online. Use the hashtags #DuannisLeónTaboada, #WorldPoetryDay, and #WPD26, tagging @peninternational.bsky.social and @penamericas.bsky.social (Bluesky), @peninternational and peninternational.lac (Instagram), and facebook.com/peninternational (Facebook).
Bluesky
#WorldPoetryDay: A poet should never be imprisoned for raising his voice. Cuban authorities must release #DuannisLeónTaboada immediately and ensure his safety and access to medical care. Stand with him today. #WPD26
Facebook/Instagram
#WorldPoetryDay: Imprisoned for speaking out, Cuban poet Duannis León Taboada is serving 14 years behind bars. His case reflects the repression faced by writers and artists in Cuba. Authorities must release him immediately and ensure his safety and access to medical care.
Stand in solidarity today—every voice matters. #WPD26
Please share this graphic on social media to highlight Duannis León Taboada’s case.
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Background
Duannis León Taboada is a young Cuban poet arrested on 16 July 2021 following his participation in the nationwide protests known as #11J. He was later sentenced to 14 years in prison on charges of “sedition.” He is currently held at Combinado del Este penitentiary in Havana.
In July 2025, León Taboada undertook a 12-day hunger strike to protest his detention conditions and demand justice and freedom. During this time, his family struggled to obtain information about his situation. When contact was finally established, he expressed his determination, stating his protest was not only for himself but for others imprisoned and for their families.
Although he ended his hunger strike after assurances of improvements, serious concerns remain about his health and conditions of detention. Reports indicate that he has been subjected to violence, inadequate medical care, and poor prison conditions.
In January 2026, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) granted precautionary measures in his favour, citing a serious and urgent risk to his life, personal integrity, and health. The Commission also expressed concern for his mother, who has reportedly been threatened by state officials while advocating for her son.
In February, it was reported that León Taboada was placed in a punishment cell after being beaten by a guard, leaving him with an open wound on his eyebrow that did not receive adequate medical attention. According to public information, he has been on a silent protest for several weeks to demand his release and reaffirm the political nature of his detention. This form of resistance has led to increased harassment against him while in prison.
León Taboada’s case highlights the broader repression of writers, artists, and protesters in Cuba, where freedom of expression continues to be severely restricted. His poetry, including works from the unpublished collection The Prisoner Who Walks at Night, reflects the resilience of a new generation of Cuban voices, despite ongoing censorship and persecution.
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Thank you for supporting Duannis León Taboada. Please help amplify his story and stand in solidarity this World Poetry Day.
Note to editors:
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