Sambra has published poems, short stories, essays and critical analyses in Cuban newssheets and magazines. Another book of short stories for children was in the process of being published when he was imprisoned. Sambra was held in Boniato Prison in Santiago until May, 1995. Prison conditions in Boniato Prison, as elsewhere in Cuba, are extremely poor. While relatives are allowed to bring food to prisoners, visits are not frequent enough to compensate for the inadequate rations, and sometimes guards keep this food.
Prisoners typically lose enormous amounts of weight in prison.
To protest against prison food standards, Cecilio Ismael Sambra Haber went on a hunger strike for 40 days, beginning in August 1994. He suffered a heart attack and was transferred to another prison. During his imprisonment, one of his sons, Guillermo, was also detained on the same charges as his father. PEN Canada held that Cecilio Ismael Sambra Haber was held in violation of his right of freedom of expression as guaranteed under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We called for his immediate and unconditional release.