Status: 03/25/2023 02:24 am
Rwandan government critic Rusesabagina, sentenced to 25 years in prison for “terrorism”, has been released from prison. Rusesabagina became known worldwide through the film “Hotel Rwanda”.
The Rwandan government critic Paul Rusesabagina, convicted of terrorism charges and whose life served as inspiration for the drama “Hotel Rwanda”, has been released from prison.
Government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo said the prison sentence would be suspended by order of President Paul Kagame after a clemency plea. However, according to Rwandan law, this does not mean that his conviction has been overturned.
Rusesabagina is to leave for Qatar
The story of the hotel manager Rusesabagina is told in the film “Hotel Rwanda”: It is about how he housed ethnic Tutsi during the 1994 genocide and thus saved their lives.
Rusesabagina, 68, who has Belgian citizenship, arrived at the Qatari ambassador’s residence in Rwanda’s capital Kigali in the evening, senior US officials said. It is expected that he will be able to leave the country in the coming days.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Al-Ansari said earlier that the process for Rusesabagina’s transfer was ongoing. From Qatar he will then travel to the United States. This issue had been discussed at the highest level between Qatari and Rwandan officials.
Arrest under dubious conditions
The sentences against 19 other people were also commuted, spokeswoman Makolo said. “Rwanda notes the constructive role of the US administration in creating conditions for dialogue on this issue, as well as Qatar’s support.” President Paul Kagame said earlier this month talks are underway to resolve the issue.
Rusesabagina’s conviction was internationally described as unjust. Rusesabagina disappeared during a visit to the United Arab Emirates in 2020 and reappeared handcuffed days later in Rwanda. His family said he was abducted and taken to Rwanda against his will for a trial. He was convicted of eight counts, including membership of a terrorist organization, murder and kidnapping.
However, the circumstances surrounding his arrest, his limited access to an independent legal team and his deteriorating health have raised international concerns. Rusesabagina said his arrest was in response to his criticism of Kagame for human rights abuses. Kagame’s government has repeatedly denied pursuing dissent through arrests and extrajudicial killings.
Rusesabagina became a hero during the genocide
In a letter to Kagame in October, Rusesabagina wrote that if released, he would spend the rest of his days in the United States. He has no personal or political ambitions and will leave Rwandan politics behind.
Rusesabagina is credited with hosting more than 1000 Tutsis in the hotel he ran during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Back then, more than 800,000 Tutsis and Hutus they tried to protect were killed. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his achievement. He became a public critic of Kagame and left Rwanda in 1996, living first in Belgium and then in the United States.