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Yiseily Aguilar, a 23-year-old young mother of three, is in critical condition after being the victim of an alleged attempt at femicide that occurred last Friday in the city of Cárdenas, Matanzas province.
According to the independent media La Hora de Cuba, citing statements from Yibeily Rodríguez, the victim's half-sister, Aguilar has fractures in his jaw, loss of teeth, and severe swelling that has prevented his surgery.
"My sister is in critical condition. She cannot eat, she cannot speak," Rodríguez reported.
The attack occurred around one in the afternoon, when their mother heard screams and found the house locked while the alleged assailant was violently beating her.
During the attempted family intervention, the attacker fled with Aguilar and her one-year-old son in a horse-drawn carriage, accompanied by another unidentified individual.
Two women who witnessed the transfer of the body, apparently with the intent of being abandoned on the shore, alerted the police.
Meanwhile, men on electric motorcycles followed the vehicle and managed to rescue the victim, according to the family who spoke to La Hora de Cuba.
Aguilar, originally from the Camagüey town of Camalote in the municipality of Nuevitas, is currently hospitalized at the Julio Miguel Aristegui Villamil Hospital in Cárdenas, as her condition is too serious for her to be transferred to the city of Matanzas.
The attacker has been detained by the authorities, although details about their identity or the ongoing legal process have not been disclosed.
According to La Hora de Cuba, this incident recalls the femicide that took place in February 2023 in the Camagüey village of Camalote, where Leidy Bacallao, 17 years old, was killed by her ex-partner.
This new case highlights the vulnerability of many Cuban women and the urgent need for effective protection mechanisms and responses to combat gender-based violence on the island.
Just a few days ago, Cuban independent platforms confirmed the 16th feminicide so far in 2025.
According to the Gender Observatory of the magazine Alas Tensas and the platform Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba, the victim was Gretel Matos, 33 years old,
Frequently Asked Questions about Feminicides in Cuba and the Yiseily Aguilar Case
What happened to Yiseily Aguilar in Cárdenas?
Yiseily Aguilar, a 23-year-old young mother, was the victim of an attempted feminicide in Cárdenas, Matanzas province. She suffered fractures to her jaw, loss of teeth, and is in critical condition. The assailant has been apprehended by the authorities.
What is the situation of femicide in Cuba?
Femicide in Cuba is a serious and growing problem. So far in 2025, at least 14 femicides have been confirmed. Independent organizations such as Yo Sí Te Creo en Cuba and Alas Tensas document these cases and highlight the lack of official recognition and effective measures from the Cuban government to address this crisis.
Why doesn't the Cuban government recognize femicide as a crime?
The Cuban government does not recognize femicide as a crime in its Penal Code, in effect since 2022, and considers it a media construct unrelated to Cuban reality. Despite this, it has acknowledged the rise of gender-based violence in recent years, yet has not implemented effective measures to protect women.
What actions are being taken to combat gender-based violence in Cuba?
Independent feminist organizations continue to demand that the Cuban government implement a comprehensive law against gender violence and establish shelters for women at risk. However, the State has yet to take significant measures to effectively address the issue.
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