Yiseily Aguilar, a 23-year-old mother of three, is in a critical condition following a brutal assault in Cardenas, Matanzas Province, which is being investigated as an attempted femicide. The incident took place last Friday.
The independent outlet La Hora de Cuba reported, citing statements from Aguilar's sister, Yibeily Rodríguez, that Aguilar suffered a broken jaw, lost several teeth, and has severe swelling that has delayed necessary surgery. “My sister is in critical condition. She can't eat or speak,” Rodríguez stated.
The attack occurred around one in the afternoon. Aguilar's mother heard screams and discovered the house locked, while the alleged attacker was violently assaulting her daughter. Amid attempts by the family to intervene, the attacker fled with Aguilar and her one-year-old child in a horse-drawn cart, accompanied by an unidentified individual.
Two women witnessed the transportation of Aguilar's body, seemingly intended for abandonment by the coast, and alerted the police. Meanwhile, men on electric motorcycles pursued the cart and managed to rescue Aguilar, according to the family’s account to La Hora de Cuba.
Originally from the Camalote area in Nuevitas municipality, Aguilar is currently receiving medical care at Julio Miguel Aristegui Villamil Hospital in Cardenas. Her condition has been too severe to facilitate a transfer to Matanzas city.
Authorities have apprehended the alleged attacker, though details regarding his identity or the ongoing legal proceedings remain undisclosed.
This incident echoes the tragic case from February 2023 in Camalote, where Leidy Bacallao, a 17-year-old, was murdered by her former partner. Such events highlight the dire vulnerability faced by many Cuban women and the pressing need for effective protections and responses against gender-based violence on the island.
Just days ago, independent Cuban platforms confirmed the 16th femicide of 2025. According to the Gender Observatory of Alas Tensas magazine and the platform Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba, the victim was 33-year-old Gretel Matos, who was fatally stabbed by her former partner in a public street in Niquero, Granma Province, on June 13.
Understanding Femicide and Its Impact in Cuba
What happened to Yiseily Aguilar?
Yiseily Aguilar is a young mother who was critically injured in an alleged attempted femicide in Cardenas, Matanzas. She sustained severe injuries, including a broken jaw and lost teeth, and is currently hospitalized.
How did the community respond to the attack?
Community members, including two women who witnessed the incident and men on electric motorcycles, played a crucial role in alerting the police and rescuing Aguilar from her attacker.
What does this incident reveal about gender violence in Cuba?
The attack on Yiseily Aguilar underscores the heightened vulnerability of women in Cuba and calls attention to the urgent need for effective measures to combat gender-based violence.