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A Cuban mother was brutally murdered on Tuesday, stabbed by her partner in Santiago de Cuba.
The woman, named "Soraida" and residing in Building F10 of the José Martí District, was allegedly attacked first in her home in the presence of her young daughter and her sick mother, according to reported by journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada based on the testimony of knowledgeable sources regarding the case.
“They say that the one named Salao killed her in front of the little girl and her sick mother. And when they took her to the Polyclinic, he finished stabbing her in front of the doctors and nurses who did nothing,” recounted a neighbor.
The account suggests that the victim was initially injured at the residence and then was killed at the hospital.
Soraida was a young woman, working in the Education sector, known for her dedication to her daughter and the care of her mother.
Close acquaintances affirm that he had recently started a relationship with the aggressor, who had just been released from prison.
"That beast spent his whole life in prison and didn't care about anything. Many kids in the neighborhood said he was a criminal, but look now, he ended up hurting my neighbor," lamented another community source in statements to Mayeta Labrada.
The killer may have been captured by authorities after committing the crime, although their identity has not yet been disclosed. The full name of the victim is also unknown.
"Santiago de Cuba needs a halt to the violence against women and girls," concludes the statement from the journalist's page.
In the comments section, hundreds of internet users have called for justice. A large number of citizens have demanded the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole for the murderer.
The demand for exemplary trials and an end to impunity for feminicides was echoed in hundreds of messages.
Many believe that the Cuban judicial system has been too lenient in similar cases, allowing the recidivism of criminals reintegrated into society without effective supervision.
"This ends when they give the death penalty," "An eye for an eye," and "Justice for Soraida!" have been phrases repeated over and over again.
Many questioned the lack of security in the clinics, where—according to various sources—there is no active police presence or security guards to prevent incidents like this from occurring.
There were also those who defended the medical staff, pointing out that they are neither trained nor equipped to confront a potential killer, as that is not their role.
Dozens of people have expressed their sorrow over Soraida's death, remembering her as an exemplary woman.
"May God have her in glory," many wrote, along with words of comfort for her mother and daughter, now marked by an irreparable trauma.
Another segment of the debate focused on the need for education and awareness regarding emotional relationships.
Some voices -often in an accusatory tone- blamed women for associating with individuals with criminal records. However, others firmly responded that the responsibility never lies with the victim, and that no background justifies murder.
“We see faces, but we do not know hearts”, was one of the most repeated comments in defense of the victim.
Beyond the pain, many people called for real and sustained measures from the government, including shelters for at-risk women, protection programs, gender equality education, and police protocols that respond preventively to prior reports.
Soraida's death has not only caused mourning but has also sparked a national conversation about femicide, justice, and women's rights in Cuba.
As of the publication of this report, feminist platforms have not commented on this new femicide, which would be the 12th of the year.
On April 12, a 35-year-old teacher and mother of two was killed by her partner in broad daylight in the community of Las Delicias, in the municipality of Puerto Padre, province of Las Tunas.
That crime also caused shock among neighbors, coworkers, and women's rights advocates. In this case, the victim was identified as Nancy Leyva García, a beloved teacher in her educational community.
As of April 14, the gender observatories OGAT and Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba (YSTCC) had recorded at least 11 confirmed femicides.
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