In a development that is currently eliciting mixed reactions, a Rwandan court has averred that the man who inspired “Hotel Rwanda,” Paul Rusesabagina, was found guilty of being part of a group responsible for “terrorist” attacks and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
According to local reports, Rusesabagina boycotted the announcement after declaring he didn’t expect justice in a trial he called a “sham.”
It is important to note that the case has had a high profile since the 67-year-old was arrested in August 2020 after what he described as a kidnapping from Dubai by Rwandan authorities.
Rusesabagina was accused of supporting an armed wing of his opposition political platform, the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change. The group had claimed some responsibility for attacks in 2018 and 2019 in the south of the country in which nine Rwandans died.
Justice Beatrice Mukamurenzi said “He founded a terrorist organisation that attacked Rwanda, he financially contributed to terrorist activities”.
It was reported that Rwandan prosecutors had sought a life sentence the former hotelier, credited with saving over 1,200 lives during the 1994 genocide but Mukamurenzi said the term “should be reduced to 25 years” as it was his first conviction.
In an interview with newsmen, Rusesabagina’s daughter Carine Kanimba said her father should be released and allowed to come home.
She said “This verdict means nothing for us. Our father was kidnapped. He was dragged across international borders in violation of international law.”
“My father knows that his rights were violated … that’s why he decided to step out of the trial, and this is all political,” adding that her father was “a political prisoner”. “The charges are completely invented.”
Carine continued that her family was “very worried” about her father’s health and were afraid he would die in prison.
She said “Every Friday we have a five minute call with my father … he doesn’t sound at ease. He sounds like the prison authorities are pressuring him, keeping him from saying what he wants to say and keeping us from really saying what we want to tell him. And the call is really short.
My father emotionally he’s strong, he’s very strong individual emotionally. Physically though we are very, very worried.”
It would be recalled that Rusesabagina, a Belgian citizen and US resident, was awarded the US Presidential Medal of Freedom for his efforts during the genocide.
The convicted Rusesabagina denied all charges against him, while his supporters described the trial as proof of Kagame’s ruthless treatment of political opponents.
According to reports, the Rwandan government had said Rusesabagina would get a fair trial, but it has drawn international concern. Recall that in December, 36 US senators wrote to Kagame, urging him to release Rusesabagina.
Reacting to the ruling, Geoffrey Robertson QC, the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s TrialWatch expert, said “This was a show trial, rather than a fair judicial inquiry”.
“The prosecution evidence against him was unveiled but not challenged. Given Mr. Rusesabagina’s age and poor health, this severe sentence is likely to be a death sentence.”
Rusesabagina’s trial began in February, six months after he arrived in Kigali on a flight from Dubai.
