On the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, more than one hundred people from various organizations gathered in front of the San Martín Courthouse to demand the release and acquittal of Eva Higui de Jesús. At 5 p.m., a rally was held in front of Congress. Led by her family, the event included artistic and sporting activities. 

[NEWS IN PROGRESS] Updated at 12:30 Argentina time. 

Following the rejection of Eva "Higui" de Jesús's request for release from prison, today The family and social organizations called for a National Day for the Freedom and Acquittal of HiguiIn various parts of the country, protests are taking place. Meanwhile, the outcome of the appeal filed by the defense last week is awaited. Seven months after her arrest in October 2016, following an attack in San Miguel by a gang of men who attempted to rape her "correctively" for being a lesbian, various activities are being held today as part of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. These will culminate in a rally at [time missing]. 5 pm, in the Plaza in front of the National Congress.

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The call to join the day of struggle came from the Justice for Higui Working Group, formed at the end of December 2016 and led by the family together with Carolina Abregú, from the Feminist Fury Organization.

Protest in front of the San Martín Courts

One of the activities began this morning in front of the San Martín Courthouse. There, the Front for Freedom and Absolution for Higui, recently formed by more than 20 organizations, marched today under the main slogan “Higui. Attacked for being a lesbian, imprisoned for defending herself,” along with lawyer Raquel Hermida Leyenda, from the Support Network, and leading the defense. “I took on this case because it involves gender violence that is not generic, but specific: here we are talking about corrective rape, and we want to establish a legal precedent on this issue, because it is almost nonexistent in the country. This is an issue for the lesbian community, and it must be addressed as such, both judicially and from all perspectives. Higui is a lesbian, and that is why she was attacked. That is the battle we are fighting.”

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Hermida Leyenda says the defense strategy—which was questioned by the family and the Mesa—aims to demonstrate self-defense. Last week, the Psychodiagnostic Report was finalized and submitted, prepared by both the family's and the court-appointed experts. “As we had already anticipated, the results confirm the abuse, and that is fundamental for establishing both corrective rape and self-defense. What we are requesting now is that a nationally licensed psychiatrist be allowed to see Higui. She does not want to be treated by the psychologist assigned to her, and that is why a psychologist from the Support Network requested to visit her last week.”

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Photos courtesy of La Fulana]]>