Buenos Aires, October 15 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez on Wednesday called on the country’s security forces to clarify the circumstances surrounding the death of Diana Sacayán, a leading transgender activist.

The death of Diana Sacayán, whose body was identified on Tuesday, was condemned by the Argentinean president as a “terrible crime” that demanded investigation from both the national and metropolitan police.

Cristina Fernandez recalled personally handing the activist a national identity card that reflected Sacayán’s gender identity. She was the first transgender person in Argentina to have her gender identity reflected on such a card.

Sacayán, president of the International Association of Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals, as well as a member of the Anti-Discrimination Liberation Movement, is the third transgender woman to be killed in Argentina in the last 30 days. 

Sacayán’s death is also one of many recent cases of femicide in Argentina.  Activists say a woman is killed in Argentina as often as one every 30 hours.  The nation’s Special Crime Unit Against Gender Violence has already made a formal motion so the case can be tried and investigated as a femicide.

Meanwhile, the Argentinian Homosexual Community characterized Sacayán’s death as a “hate crime,” suggesting she was targeted based on her transgender identity.