Following the recent statements of the Priestess Euvonie Auguste, Head of the National Confederation of voodoo practitioners of Haiti, who deplored the abrogation of Article 297 of the Constitution who, according to her, protected sector voodoo against all forms of discrimination and face the strong reactions in the sector voodoo Joël Turenne Director of Legal Affairs of the Directorate General of Ministry of Religious Affairs, who said to have learned "with stupefaction the apprehensions of Voodoo sector concerning the abrogation of Article 297 of the amended Constitution" brings to the attention of all concerned, that "the constitutional amendment is and can not be prejudicial in any way, nor to the functioning of voodoo, or the rights of its adherents". Especially, he specifies that "the presidential decree of April 4, 2003 make of the Voodoo a religion recognized which should in no way be confused with a superstitious practice."

Finally, the Directorate General of Ministry of Religious Affairs, explained that the decree law of September 5, 1935 (implicated in Article 297) has never been promulgated and that consequently, has never been applicable under the law.

Read the Presidential Decree of April 4, 2003 :

https://www.haitilibre.com/article-6200-haiti-religion-le-gouvernement-veut-rassurer-le-secteur-vodou.html (in french)

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6168-haiti-flash-denial-of-the-prime-minister-s-ofice.html (July 18 Denial of PM)

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6133-haiti-religion-voodoo-would-be-no-longer-protected-by-the-constitution-amended.html

HL/ HaitiLibre