What was supposed to be an afternoon of prayer ended in panic. Screams, the cries of children, and stones falling from above abruptly interrupted a Christian worship service in Guanabacoa, Havana, leaving a scene that its participants will not easily forget.
Last Sunday, while Pastor Yoennis Cala and his wife Dayana Gómez were leading a religious service at their home, a neighbor identified as Pedro—an official from the Ministry of Interior (MININT) and a jailer at the Havana Court—went up to their rooftop and began throwing stones and concrete blocks at the house, reported journalist Yaiset Rodríguez Fernández on Facebook.
Inside the place, there were not only the pastors. There were also several minors: the couple's children, just 7 and 3 years old, a 5-year-old girl, and two teenagers aged 15. Fear took hold of everyone.
"They started crying and screaming. The girl was shouting that her mother had been killed by a rock," recounted Pastor Gómez, who managed to record part of the attack while others ran to seek shelter.
The service turned into a scene of chaos. Some worshippers fled, while others knelt down to pray. The pastor, amidst the uproar, remained at the pulpit reading the Bible. “I could only stay there (...) reading Ephesians 6,” he said.
The violence was not limited to stones. The aggressor's wife, identified as Olivia, issued death threats and challenged the pastor to come out into the street. He refused. “The weapons of our militia are not carnal,” he replied, insisting on maintaining a peaceful stance.
It wasn't the first time this couple of neighbors interrupted the services. According to the pastors, they had previously shouted insults from the rooftop and played loud music to sabotage the meetings. But this time, the conflict escalated dangerously.
The attack occurred after several days of intense religious activity. The community had completed four days of vigil and had gone out to preach in the streets, gaining dozens of new believers.
The viral video, shared on social media, has surpassed 119,000 views, sparking outrage among users both inside and outside Cuba. Although the pastors were initially hesitant to file a complaint, religious leaders from other denominations have urged them to take action.
The fact that the alleged assailant is an official from MININT adds an even more delicate burden to the case. International organizations have warned of a growing pattern of restrictions and attacks against religious freedom on the island.
Only in 2025, the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights documented hundreds of violations of this right. Cuba continues to be identified as a country of particular concern regarding religious freedom, on par with nations that have severe repressive histories.
Meanwhile, for the Cala Gómez family, what happened leaves a deep mark, especially on the youngest members, who witnessed a violence that should never have intruded into a space of faith.
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