8/20/2005 Updates: Letter from Haitian National Penitentiary | Haiti prisoner Father Jean-Juste denied medical treatment

Father Jean-Juste was present at the funeral of Haitian journalist Jacques Roche on July 21st. As he entered into the chapel where the body was, he was shouted at, called names such as "assassin," and beaten by people in the crowd. Security officers helped him to leave, as they said, for his safety. He was met by UN police, who brought him to a police station. He was questioned and eventually charged with killing Roche, who had been kidnapped and shot to death. His body had been found just days before. He has been held in isolation ever since, and attorney Bill Quigley, who was detained along with Jean-Juste but allowed to leave later in the day, has not been allowed to visit him. Read more about Father Jean-Juste's detention. On July 25th, Amnesty International declared Gérard Jean-Juste a prisoner of conscience. He is still being held in isolation in the Haitian National Penitentiary.

People who support freedom and democracy in Haiti are being asked to contact the UN and Haitian dignitaries to ask them to release MINUSTAH's prison report immediately, and to resist pressure from the Haitian police to minimize the number of casualties. People are also encouraged to demand Father Jean-Juste's release. Contact info and talking points | Info about more people to contact | 7/25 Update from Bill Quigley | 7/26 action alert by IJDH | 7/27: "Pastor of the Poor"

Look for updates on the Haiti Action Website, Ben Terrall's Haiti Update, and Flashpoints