'Hotel Rwanda' hero Paul Rusesabagina sentenced to 25 years in prison on terror charges

Paul Rusesabagina, the "Hotel Rwanda" hero who became a fiercely outspoken government critic, was sentenced on Monday to 25 years in prison on terrorism charges after what his supporters labelled a politically motivated show trial.

The 20 co-defendants, who appeared in court handcuffed and wearing pink prison uniforms, were given sentences ranging from three to 20 years. The United States - which awarded Rusesabagina its Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, as well as other governments and rights groups had voiced concerns about his transfer to Rwanda.

"The presumption of innocence was also not respected. These elements de facto call into question the trial and the verdict." During the trial, his co-defendants gave conflicting testimony about the level of Rusesabagina's involvement with the FLN and its fighters.

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Man who inspired the film Hotel Rwanda convicted of terror chargesThe verdict comes more than a year after Paul Rusesabagina disappeared during a visit to Dubai and appeared days later in Rwanda in handcuffs, accused of supporting the armed wing of his opposition political platform.
Source: abcnews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »

Man who inspired the film Hotel Rwanda convicted of terror chargesThe verdict comes more than a year after Paul Rusesabagina disappeared during a visit to Dubai and appeared days later in Rwanda in handcuffs, accused of supporting the armed wing of his opposition political platform.
Source: abcnews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »