On March 26th, 2023, Rwandan hero Paul Rusesabagina arrived in Qatar from Rwanda as a free man, after being imprisoned for over two years. Rusesabagina, who is widely known for his heroic actions during the Rwandan genocide of 1994, was arrested in August 2020 on terrorism charges, which he denies.
Rusesabagina, the hero of ‘Hotel Rwanda’, has had his jail sentence commuted
Rusesabagina gained international fame for his role in saving over 1,200 Tutsi and moderate Hutu refugees during the Rwandan genocide by sheltering them in the Hotel des Mille Collines, which he managed at the time. His actions were portrayed in the 2004 film, “Hotel Rwanda.”
Despite being a hero in the eyes of many, Rusesabagina has been a controversial figure in Rwanda for his criticism of the current government led by President Paul Kagame. His family and supporters claim that he was kidnapped from Dubai and brought to Rwanda against his will, where he was arrested and charged with terrorism.
During his imprisonment, Rusesabagina’s health deteriorated, and he raised concerns about being denied access to his family and lawyers. The trial against him was highly criticized by human rights groups, who claimed that he did not receive a fair trial and that his arrest was politically motivated.
The news of his release has been celebrated by his family and supporters, who have been advocating for his release since his arrest.
