Mike Hammer visits Anna Bensi after sentencing of her and her mother

Mike Hammer, chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba, visited Anna Bensi and expressed support in response to harassment that the diplomatic mission says she and her mother, Caridad Silvente, face.

The visit came after both women were found guilty October 1 in Havana in a case involving an alleged offense against a police officer's personal and family privacy. After the hearing, Bensi said the court verbally informed them that each had been sentenced to two years of restricted liberty.

In a social-media post, the embassy said expressing opinions and religious beliefs is not a crime and questioned state agents dressing in civilian clothes. It also said those agents and their informants record other people.