Mother Defies Cuban Regime's Military Draft: "I Refuse to Let Them Take My Son"

Alicia Alonso Morejón, a prominent advocate for the Free Cubans movement in Uruguay and currently residing in the United States, has publicly condemned the Cuban government's attempts to force her son into mandatory military service. Despite her son's refusal and her own opposition to this coercion, the regime persists in its efforts.

In a video that has amassed over 84,000 views and sparked extensive discussion on Facebook, Alonso asserts, "Since 2021, I have been campaigning against mandatory military service. I've connected with influential individuals and gathered data on the numerous young lives lost each year to this tragic military service in Cuba." Her statement highlights the personal toll of the issue, as she now faces the reality of her own son being compelled to enlist.

Alonso holds the Cuban authorities accountable for any harm that may befall her son, stating emphatically, "I do not authorize them to take my son for mandatory military service, and I hold each of you responsible—the dictators and accomplices of this massacre called the revolution. You are accountable for any misfortune, no matter how small, that happens to my son."

Her message, filled with indignation, warns the regime that she will not remain silent about what she deems an injustice: "Whatever happens to my son, know that you won't have enough life to make amends for it. I'm telling you today, so you are aware and understand the gravity of my words. You will regret forever what happens to my son."

Alonso also challenges the regime's narrative of popular support for the revolution: "If you claim every day that the Cuban people support the revolution, and show videos of people saying they'll defend it with their blood, then why do you need to force children into military service or war?" She questions the logic of the regime's forced recruitment.

Faced with a dire ultimatum, Alonso explains that her son is being forced to choose between military service or a three to five-year prison sentence. Closing her video with a mix of pain and anger, she declares, "I don't want to see my son, who doesn't want to go, who will not defend your damn revolution. Whatever happens to him, you'll regret every single day."

The post, tagged with #NoAlServicioMilitarObligatorio, #CubaEsUnaDictadura, and #IntervencionParaCuba, has resonated with many Cuban mothers who share her plight.

Enduring Demand for Change

Alicia Alonso's testimony joins a longstanding series of denunciations against Cuba's military draft and its impact on young people and their families. In January 2026, Mercedes Roque, mother of Antonio Rassi Roque, renewed her demand for justice following her son's death during mandatory service in Havana. Her social media posts highlighted the lack of official accountability and the reported abuses in military unit 5050.

Earlier that month, multiple mothers reported that young recruits were put on "combat readiness" after events in Venezuela, causing family alarm and revealing tensions within military units, as noted in Santiago de Cuba's Military Unit 1573 reports.

In December 2025, a father shared images of 24 teenagers who died or suffered severe consequences, stating that at least 78 young people have died since 2019 during military service, documenting the anguish of many affected families.

Growing Resistance to Forced Conscription

The denunciation by Alonso has reignited the #NoAlServicioMilitarObligatorio movement, which has gained momentum several times over recent years. In August 2022, the movement surged after young recruits perished in the Matanzas Supertanker Base fire. Activists and families criticized the deployment of unprepared teenagers to battle the blaze, demanding "No more victims." Independent legal organization Cubalex and historian Leonardo Fernández Otaño called for "No more truncated smiles. No more fractured Cuban families. No more incinerated lives."

Three years later, in January 2025, the campaign strengthened again following a munitions warehouse explosion in Holguín, where several young recruits went missing. Civil society groups, like the Republican Youth Impact movement, led protests across provinces with banners declaring, "Our young people deserve to live, not die!" and "No to Mandatory Military Service."

Spokesperson Ramón Zamora Rodríguez described these protests as "acts of bravery and civic commitment," while independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada reminded that "hundreds of young people have died over the years while fulfilling military service."

The debate over mandatory military service resurfaces with each tragedy. Activists and families denounce the system as "oppressive and dangerous," while the regime maintains that service is "voluntary," despite the National Defense Law mandating it for all men aged 17 to 28. Penalties for refusal—intensified in 2024 under Decree 103—include fines up to 7,000 Cuban pesos and potential criminal charges.

In this climate, Alicia Alonso Morejón's voice has become a significant cry within a movement gaining strength both within and outside Cuba. Her protest not only reflects a mother's fear but also echoes the concerns of countless families worried about their children becoming the next victims of what many see as an outdated and abusive system. "What happens to my son," she warned, "I'm telling you now: you won't have enough life to pay for it."