'Hotel Rwanda' Hero Paul Rusesabagina Freed From Prison
Sumaira FH Published March 25, 2023 | 09:11 PM
Fiercely outspoken Rwandan government critic Paul Rusesabagina, whose efforts to save people during the 1994 genocide inspired the Hollywood film "Hotel Rwanda", has been freed from prison after more than 900 days behind bars
Kigali, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Mar, 2023 ) :Fiercely outspoken Rwandan government critic Paul Rusesabagina, whose efforts to save people during the 1994 genocide inspired the Hollywood film "Hotel Rwanda", has been freed from prison after more than 900 days behind bars.
Rusesabagina was released late Friday away from the media glare and will return to the United States after the Kigali government commuted his 25-year sentence on terrorism charges.
His detention had thrown a spotlight on Rwanda's record of crushing political dissent and free speech under President Paul Kagame.
Rusesabagina was convicted in September 2021 of backing an armed rebel group after a trial that his supporters denounced as a sham.
The 68-year-old, who is also a Belgian citizen with US permanent residency, has been in failing health and his family said he was tortured during his 939 days in detention.
Shortly before midnight Friday, Rusesabagina arrived at the Qatari ambassador's residence in Kigali, a US official said.
He will likely stay there for "a couple of days" before flying to Qatar, which helped broker his release, and then to the United States, another US official said.
His sentence was commuted by presidential order, Justice Minister Emmanuel Ugirashebuja said in a statement, while 19 co-defendants also saw their sentences commuted.
But the minister warned: "Under Rwandan law, commutation of sentence does not extinguish the underlying conviction." US President Joe Biden welcomed Rusesabagina's release, calling it a "happy outcome".
"Paul's family is eager to welcome him back to the United States, and I share their joy at today's good news," he said in a statement.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Friday that the United States was "grateful" to Rwanda for the release, while Belgium also said it welcomed the move.
Rwanda praised the role of both the United States and Qatar in resolving the case.
"This is the result of a shared desire to reset (the) US-Rwanda relationship," Kagame's press secretary Stephanie Nyombayire tweeted Friday, adding the close relationship between Rwanda and Qatar was "key".
Talks on a potential release started at the end of 2022 and a breakthrough came last week in discussions between Kagame and Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, a source with knowledge of the negotiations said.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
CM lauds TCF's journey from 5 schools to 2000 across country
Zhao Shirin calls on Punjab Industries Minister
Immunization campaign to protect children from deadly diseases in full swing
Action taken against officers not recovering 85% tax: Secretary
Haiti transitional council sworn in after months of violence
IHC adjourns cipher case hearing against PTI founder till April 20,
Ukrainian village battles mines year after Russia forced out
Collective efforts needed to curb terrorism: Barrister Saif
China's Shenzhou-18 mission takes off bound for space station
Police arrest 4 suspects, recovered phones, bikes
Thousands of flights scrapped as French air traffic controllers strike
WWB directed to identify board’s land for revenue generation
More Stories From World
-
Haiti transitional council sworn in after months of violence
28 minutes ago -
Ukrainian village battles mines year after Russia forced out
36 minutes ago -
China's Shenzhou-18 mission takes off bound for space station
28 minutes ago -
Thousands of flights scrapped as French air traffic controllers strike
31 minutes ago -
India's IndiGo to buy 30 A350 planes: Airbus
31 minutes ago -
Scottish leader scraps coalition deal with Greens
37 minutes ago
-
Paris landmark Moulin Rouge's windmill sails collapse
45 minutes ago -
155 killed in Tanzania as heavy rains lash East Africa
46 minutes ago -
Heatstroke kills 30 in Thailand this year as Southeast Asia bakes
28 minutes ago -
China's Shenzhou-18 mission takes off bound for space station
27 minutes ago -
Car giants vie for EV crown at Beijing's Auto China show
27 minutes ago -
US economic growth slows significantly in first quarter
1 hour ago