Haiti: Why no probe of the suspicious death of LGBTQ activist Charlot Jeudy?
Colin Stewart is a 45-year journalism veteran living in Southern…
Charlot Jeudy, a prominent Haitian LGBTQ rights defender, was found dead three weeks ago, on Nov. 25. The circumstances surrounding his death have still not been clarified and no autopsy has been performed.
Haitian associations and NGOs are concerned that investigations have stalled despite words of concern from Haiti’s political leaders. They are worried that Jeudy, who was president of the LGBTQ advocacy group Kouraj, may have been assassinated. His relatives suspect that he was poisoned.
Eleven activist groups, including Kouraj, issued a communiqué to protest the lack of an active investigation. Jeudy has not been forgotten and whoever was responsible for his death should not be allowed to escape with impunity, they stated.
Those activists said in their statement that the government has asked the Ministry of Justice to devote resources of the Medical / Legal Institute to the case, but that institute has no such resources. No autopsy has been performed, but the government has rejected offers of help from experts outside Haiti, they said.
“More than three weeks after his death, Charlot cannot be buried. His community, his family and his loved ones can neither mourn his death nor start on the way of justice,” the activists said.
Related news:
- Haiti: Activists demand probe of sudden death of LGBTQ rights defender (November 2019, 76crimes.com)
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