{"id":2645804,"date":"2026-08-16T15:14:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T19:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/missing-his-daughter-grow-up-the-pain-of-a-cuban-and-christian-political-prisoner\/"},"modified":"2026-08-16T15:18:57","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T19:18:57","slug":"missing-his-daughter-grow-up-the-pain-of-a-cuban-and-christian-political-prisoner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/missing-his-daughter-grow-up-the-pain-of-a-cuban-and-christian-political-prisoner\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Missing His Daughter Grow Up&#8217;: The Pain of a Cuban and Christian Political Prisoner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmissing-his-daughter-grow-up-the-pain-of-a-cuban-and-christian-political-prisoner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2645804&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The content features a heartfelt story about Ernesto ricardo Medina (&#8220;Tico&#8221;), a young Cuban man and co-founder of the viral project El4tico, which uses social media to criticize the Cuban socialist regime and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/taliban-to-paint-over-george-floyd-mural-in-kabul-replace-with-islamic-slogan\/\" title=\"Taliban To Paint Over George Floyd Mural In Kabul, Replace With Islamic Slogan\">promote critical thinking<\/a>. tico, who previously raised pigs to support his family, became an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/government-cant-solve-our-cancel-culture-problem\/\" title=\"Government Can\u2019t Solve our Cancel Culture Problem\">influential political voice<\/a> through videos expressing his faith and dissent.His activism led to his arrest six months ago on charges related to propaganda and incitement. His wife, Doris Santiesteban, remains steadfast in her support, publicly calling for his release while caring for their young daughter Emma, who witnessed her father&#8217;s arrest. The story highlights the family&#8217;s fears, their love, and the solidarity they have received from supporters and religious communities.It illustrates the grim reality of repression in Cuba and the ongoing struggle for political freedom,emphasizing the personal sacrifices made by Tico and his family.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p><em>A young mathematics graduate who raised pigs to feed his wife and daughter taught himself \u2014 using a gifted camera \u2014 how to edit videos during the rare hours his city wasn\u2019t suffering blackouts. Within weeks, he became one of the most <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >influential independent political voices<\/a> on an island that hasn\u2019t held free elections in nearly 70 years.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>The story might seem hard to follow, but it is real \u2014 and grim. The young man is Ernesto Ricardo Medina (\u201cTico\u201d), co-founder (alongside Kamil Zayas) of the viral audiovisual project El4tico, where <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NHUGfM3oYkI&#038;t=49s\">he blended his faith with criticism of the Cuban socialist tyranny<\/a>. In August, he marks six months of imprisonment on charges of \u201cpropaganda against the constitutional order\u201d and \u201cincitement to commit a crime.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>The life he left behind on the morning of his arrest \u2014 February 6 \u2014 includes the significant presence he built on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-new-acting-attorney-general-jeff-rosen-recently-wrote-an-essay-on-foreign-influence-in-us-elections-this-tells-us-a-little-about-his-knowledge-of-whats-going-on-today\/\" title=\"The New Acting Attorney General Jeff Rosen Recently Wrote an Essay on Foreign Influence in US Elections \u2013 This Tells Us A Little About His Knowledge of What\u2019s Going On Today\">social media platforms<\/a> like Facebook, where he had 137,000 followers. But even more importantly, he left behind his family: his 4-year-old daughter, Emma, and his wife, Doris Santiesteban.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Doris stood by him when he was a free man, and she stands by him now as one of the Castro regime\u2019s more than 1,200 political prisoners. I am speaking today with Doris \u2014 who, despite her naturally private nature, posts videos and messages on social media every day calling for her husband\u2019s freedom.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>How did you and Ernesto meet?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve known Tico for many years, but the truth is, we had never actually spoken to one another.<\/p>\n<p>We only grew closer after I started working at a caf\u00e9 in the city of Holgu\u00edn \u2014 where we both live. From that moment on, we were together; that\u2019s how we got to where we are now.<\/p>\n<p><strong>We\u2019ve seen several family videos you\u2019ve d on alongside calls for Tico\u2019s freedom. In one, he\u2019s playing with Emma, <\/strong><strong>who is laughing uproariously in her crib. What is Tico like as a father?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As a father, Tico was always there for Emma. He was her prince and protector \u2014 the strong one. Honestly, the saddest part of this whole bitter situation for him has been being kept away from watching his daughter grow up all this time.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What do you think drove him to start El4tico?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>El4tico, as a media phenomenon, was something that just happened spontaneously.<\/p>\n<p>A friend gave us the camera, and Tico started using it to record random things. Then one day, he invited some friends over to talk, and in the midst of venting, the topic of politics in this country came up.<\/p>\n<p>He and Kamil just wanted to express what they\u2019ve experienced as young Cubans today. I can also tell you that they wanted to raise awareness about the situation in Cuba and encourage critical thinking.<\/p>\n<p><strong>When that happened \u2014 and Tico started addressing issues more directly against the regime \u2014 were you or the family afraid? How did you react?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Yes, of course we were afraid; we knew this could happen.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m with him all the way; I support him in everything, and I still do. We continue to trust in God; He is the only one who has the final word and is in control.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, the family reacted with fear. Some friends even stopped visiting the house out of fear of repression.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Was there a specific event or El4tico video that made you particularly worried?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I was always worried. But the pressure on Tico started to get worse and became more visible when the sector chief from the Revolutionary National Police (PNR) came to the house. I\u2019d say that was the moment \u2014 September 17, 2025 \u2014 when this whole ordeal began for our family.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How has Emma reacted? She was 3 years old when the police took Tico away. How does she interact with you?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Emma\u2019s reaction is something I sometimes don\u2019t even know how to explain.<\/p>\n<p>She witnessed everything that happened on the day of the arrest. Then she saw the lonely days that followed at home. She saw me sad, crying. Despite everything, she has been \u2014 well, she\u2019s really surprised me. So loving and affectionate. She tells me that she\u2019s always looking after Mom now because Dad isn\u2019t here. To hear her say things like that, at such a young age\u2026<\/p>\n<p><strong>It\u2019s remarkable how social media has been flooded with shows of support \u2014 and how, back in early February, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/YoeSuarezCuba\/posts\/pfbid0QptDWvgcHBFoKnBuP7W7bGhNqMoXBKvJQd6FFnEwWwhwKsj57xkpf8rQw4gpYoKJl\">a pastor traveled all the way from Las Tunas<\/a> to pray for you and bring an offering from the church in Cuba. Beyond instances like that, have you felt that sense of solidarity close at hand over these past few months?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Yes, of course.<\/p>\n<p>So many people have reached out to offer everything from prayers to emotional support and companionship.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is the latest news you\u2019ve had about Ernesto?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I know he\u2019s just surviving right now. The question is, for how long?<\/p>\n<div><em>Yoe Su\u00e1rez is The Washington Stand\u2019s international affairs correspondent. He is an exiled journalist, writer, and producer who investigated in Havana about torture, political police, gangs, government black lists, and cybersurveillance. A graduate of Universitat Aut\u00f2noma de Barcelona, he was a CBN correspondent, and has written for outlets like The Hill and Newsweek. He has appeared on Vox, Univision, and Deutsche Welle as an analyst on Cuba, security, and U.S. foreign policy.<\/em><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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