RWANDA
Defacing Heroes
A Rwandan court found Paul Rusesabagina of “Hotel Rwanda” fame guilty of terrorism-related charges in a monthslong trial that critics say was not a fair one, the Washington Post reported Monday.
The court said that the former hotel manager and opposition figure was guilty of forming an armed militia and being part of a terrorist group blamed for deadly gun, grenade and arson attacks in Rwanda in 2018 and 2019. Judge Beatrice Mukamurenzi said Rusesabagina’s opposition group was responsible for the attacks on civilians in Rwanda. She cited a 2018 video in which Rusesabagina said “to use any means possible to bring about change in Rwanda” as evidence of his guilt.
Rusesabinga had called the proceedings a “sham” and withdrew from the trial in March, saying he did not expect justice, the Associated Press wrote.
Human rights groups and his lawyers noted that the trial was not fair: They said that Rusesabagina was denied confidential communication with his lawyers and that the court failed to question the motives and credibility of witnesses against him.
Former journalist and author Michela Wrong, who has followed the case, said that the trial is part of Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s efforts to curb dissent. Rusesabagina had accused Kagame of human rights abuses.
Rusesabagina’s lawyers said that he was illegally arrested by Rwandan authorities last year after he was tricked into boarding a plane that took him to Rwanda. He said he believed he was heading to Burundi to give speeches at churches.
Rusesabagina is remembered for his efforts in saving more than 1,000 people by sheltering them at the hotel he managed during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which some 800,000 Tutsi were killed, along with many Hutus who tried to assist them.
He was awarded the US Presidential Medal of Freedom and his heroic efforts were depicted in the movie “Hotel Rwanda,” where Rusesabagina was played by actor Don Cheadle.
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