The name that inspired the Oscar-winning film Hotel Rwanda is released
Human rights activist Paul Rusesabagina, whose life is the subject of the film Hotel Rwanda, has been released after his 25-year sentence was commuted on “terrorism” charges.
Biden said he welcomed Rusesabagina’s release by the Rwandan government, adding: “Paul’s family is looking forward to his return to the United States, and I share their joy at today’s good news.” Biden thanked the Rwandan government, which made Rusesabagina’s release possible, and Qatar for its role in the process, as well as US government officials.
NAME oppose the government
In Rwanda, a court sentenced Rusesabagina to 25 years in prison in September 2021 at her trial in which she was accused of terrorism. The Rwanda Prosecutor’s Office, for its part, stated that Rusesabagina’s sentence was insufficient and asked for life imprisonment. Rusesabagina, who boycotted the court, said she did not expect fairness from the trial and accused the court of “pretending.”
Rusesabagina, 68, who was a fierce opponent of Rwandan President Paul Kagame and lived in exile for years, was detained in the United Arab Emirates in August 2020 after an arrest warrant was issued for him and he was taken away to your country.
Rusesabagina, who was the subject of the Oscar-winning film “Rwanda Hotel” and allegedly saved the lives of many innocent people during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, and 16 defendants were indicted on 13 different charges including “terrorism, formation of an armed organization and complicity in the murder”.
Rusesabagina became famous after the movie and received peace prizes in different countries. Then-United States President George W. Bush awarded Rusesabagina the Medal of Freedom in 2005.
Most recently, Rusesabagina’s family filed a $400 million lawsuit against the Rwandan government last year, alleging that in 2020 she was “tricked with the promise of work” to travel from the US to Burundi, kidnapped and tortured. .
US officials argue that months of diplomatic efforts, including by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, contributed to the release of Rusesabagina, who spent more than two years in a Rwandan prison. (AA)