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President Biden thanked Rwanda’s authorities on Friday for releasing Paul Rusesabagina, who impressed the movie “Lodge Rwanda,” and permitting him to return to his household within the U.S.
Rusesabagina, a 68-year-old U.S. resident and Belgian citizen, had his 25-year sentence for terrorism offenses commuted by presidential order after a request for clemency. A Rwanda authorities spokesperson mentioned the commutation doesn’t “extinguish” his conviction.
Biden launched a press release Friday welcoming Rusesabagina dwelling to the U.S.
“I welcome at this time’s launch of Paul Rusesabagina by the Authorities of Rwanda,” Biden wrote. “Paul’s household is keen to welcome him again to the USA, and I share their pleasure at at this time’s excellent news.”
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Paul Rusesabagina, 68, had his 25-year sentence for terrorism offenses commuted in Rwanda by presidential order after a request for clemency. (AP)
“I thank the Rwandan Authorities for making this reunion doable, and I additionally thank the Authorities of Qatar for facilitating Paul’s launch and return to the USA,” he continued. “I add my gratitude to these throughout the U.S. Authorities who’ve labored with the Authorities of Rwanda to realize at this time’s completely happy end result.”
Rusesabagina impressed the 2004 movie “Lodge Rwanda” for saving lots of of individuals from genocide. However years later, he was convicted of eight costs — together with membership in a terrorist group, homicide and abduction — in a trial that has been broadly criticized by the U.S. and others. The circumstances of his arrest, his restricted entry to an unbiased authorized group and his deteriorating well being sparked worldwide backlash.
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Paul Rusesabagina impressed the 2004 movie “Lodge Rwanda” for saving lots of of individuals from genocide. (Photograph by SIMON WOHLFAHRT/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
He went lacking in 2020 throughout a go to to Dubai and appeared days later in Rwanda in handcuffs. His household says he was kidnapped and brought to Rwanda in opposition to his will to face trial. Rusesabagina has additionally mentioned he was gagged and tortured earlier than he was jailed, however Rwandan authorities have denied this allegation.
Rusesabagina has mentioned he was arrested attributable to his criticism of Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame over alleged human rights abuses. Rwanda’s authorities has denied accusations it targets dissenting voices with arrests and extrajudicial killings.
In an Oct. 14 letter posted on the justice ministry’s web site, Rusesabagina wrote “if I’m granted a pardon and launched, I perceive totally that I’ll spend the rest of my days in the USA in quiet reflection. I can guarantee you thru this letter that I maintain no private or political ambitions in any other case. I’ll go away questions concerning Rwandan politics behind me.”
Paul Rusesabagina was convicted in Rwanda of eight costs, together with membership in a terrorist group, homicide and abduction. (AP Photograph/Muhizi Olivier)
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Rusesabagina was given the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom after he sheltered greater than 1,000 ethnic Tutsis on the lodge he managed throughout Rwanda’s 1994 genocide when greater than 800,000 Tutsi and Hutus who tried to guard them have been killed.
He grew to become a public critic of Kagame and left Rwanda in 1996, initially residing in Belgium earlier than shifting to the U.S.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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