Cuban authorities arrested about a hundred women Sunday, breaking up a march by the opposition group Ladies in White.
Shouting "Freedom! Freedom!," the women offered no resistance as they were boarded onto buses by police and agents in plain clothes.
A group of about 100 government supporters, who arrived along with the authorities at the scene in Havana's Miramar district, shouted "Viva Fidel, Viva Raul" as the women were taken away.
The women's group, formed in 2003 by wives of political prisoners, marches every Sunday in the Cuban capital after hearing mass at Santa Rita parish church, with the government's permission.
But dozens of police moved in and surrounded the marchers two blocks from the church after they headed toward the sea instead of along their usual route on Miramar's Quinta Avenida.
The march coincided with the 20th anniversary of an incident in which 37 people, including 10 children, drowned trying to flee the communist-ruled island in a tugboat.
The tugboat sank after being intercepted by four Cuban vessels, which survivors said doused it with water cannon and rammed it.
A Cuban exile group marked the anniversary by launching fireworks Saturday night from a small flotilla of boats in waters off Havana, organizers said.
The Ladies in White, the only opposition group allowed to march in Havana, was awarded the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize in 2005.
GMT 16:54 2018 Thursday ,06 December
Prominent Rwandan activist Diane Rwigara acquitted of 'insurrection'GMT 21:37 2018 Friday ,23 November
Bahrain's efforts to protect women's rights praisedGMT 12:30 2018 Tuesday ,30 October
Women wrestlers take on tradition in south IraqGMT 11:04 2018 Friday ,26 October
EU gender pay gap means women work for free from November 3GMT 10:56 2018 Monday ,15 October
Halep clinches year-end top spot in women's tennis rankingsGMT 11:20 2018 Friday ,12 October
Young Egyptian woman serves as minister for a dayGMT 16:20 2018 Wednesday ,10 October
Palestinian champions ‘drift’ racing for womenGMT 09:36 2018 Tuesday ,02 October
Kuwaiti women's empowering initiative hailedMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor