Rwandan human rights activist Paul Rusesabagina, whose actions during the country’s civil war inspired the film “Hotel Rwanda” is set to be released from detention on Saturday, March 25, 2023.
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His sentence “was commuted by Rwanda President Paul Kagame following his request for clemency.
Paul had been charged with 29 others for terrorism and was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2021.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention rendered had termed the arrest as illegal kidnapping, stating that “Paul had been targeted by the Government on account of his criticisms of the government.”
According to Rwanda’s spokesperson, Yolande Makolo, “Commutation of sentence does not extinguish the underlying conviction”.
“Rwanda notes the constructive role of the US government in creating conditions for dialogue on this issue, as well as the facilitation provided by the State of Qatar,” Makolo had stated.
On hearing the news, Paul’s family expressed their joy and can’t wait to be reunited with him.
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Photo Credit: The New York Times
Who Is Paul Rusesabagina?
Paul Rusesabagina is a well known human rights activist, and a former manager of the Hôtel des Mille Collines in Kigali.
Born on June 15, 1954, in Murama, Kigali, Ruanda-Urundi, Paul had played a notable role during the Rwandan genocide by accommodating 1,268 Hutu and Tutsi fleeing refugees in his hotel.
His humane gesture which led to no loss of life during the genocide, led to the making of the historical war film Hotel Rwanda in 2004.
Paul gained international recognition and became a public speaker and activist.
In 2006, Paul founded the Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation. He now holds both Belgian and American citizenship, with properties in Brussels, Belgium and San Antonio, Texas.
Paul was a critic of the RPF government, and later founded the PDR-Ihumure political party in 2006.
Paul has received many awards for his human rights activities, and wrote many books including his autobiography An Ordinary Man.
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