The Priestess Euvonie Auguste, Head of the National Confederation of voodoo in Haiti, deplores the abrogation of Article 297 of the Constitution which, accrding to her protected the sector voodoo against all forms of discrimination. Recall that Article 297 abrogated amongst other things the Decree-Law of 5 September 1935 on superstitious beliefs that restricted arbitrarily the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens.

Given this new constitutional situation, the priestess Euvonie Augustus, stated that now, the vodoo practitioners will have to use their own means to protect themselves from any attacks against them.

Constitution 1987 (before amendment)

Article 297 :

All laws, all decree laws, all decrees arbitrarily limiting the basic rights and freedoms of citizens including :

a) The Decree-Law of 5 September 1935 on superstitious beliefs ;

b) The Law of August 2, 1977 establishing the Court of State Security ;

c) LThe Law of July 28, 1975 placing the lands of the Artibonite Valley in an exceptional status ;

d) The Law of April 29, 1969 condemning any doctrine of importation ;

Are and remain abrogated.

Constitution 1987 amended :

Article 297 of the Constitution of 1987 is abrogated.

Decree-Law of 5 September 1935 on the superstitious practices :

Art. 1st.- Are considered superstitious practices :

1) ceremonies, rituals, dances and meetings during which it is practiced as an offering to the alleged deities, of sacrifices of livestock or poultry. 2) the fact to exploit the public by making believe that, by occult means, it is possible to reach either to change the wealth status of an individual, either to cure him of any harm, by processes ignored by medical science; 3) the fact of having in his home cabalistic objects used to exploit the gullibility or naivety of the public.

Art. 2.- Any individual convicted of so-called superstitious practices will be sentenced to imprisonment for six months and to a fine of four hundred gourdes, everything to pronounce by the court of simple police.

Art. 3.- In cases provided above, the judgment will be enforceable, notwithstanding appeal or cassation appeal.

Art. 4.- The objects used in the perpetration of the offense described in Article 3 will be confiscated.

Art. 5.- The present Decree repeals all laws or provisions of laws contrary to it, and will be executed at the diligence of the Secretary of State for Justice.

TB/ HaitiLibre