A court in Rwanda has sentenced the hero of the Hollywood film, ‘Hotel Rwanda’, Paul Rusesabagina, to 25 years in prison for terror-related offenses.
The court on Monday, September 20, 2021, found him guilty on terrorism-related charges.
The 67-year-old was found despite previously rejecting all charges.
The charges relate to Rwanda’s 1994 genocide in which an estimated over 800,000 people were massacred.
Local media reports cited the trial judge, Beatrice Mukamurenzi, as saying on Monday that “They should be found guilty for being part of this terror group – MRCD-FLN.”
“They attacked people in their homes, or even in their cars on the road travelling,” the judge added.
According to the judge, “he [Rusesabagina] founded a terrorist organization that attacked Rwanda; he financially contributed to terrorist activities.”
Mr Rusesabagina was allegedly kidnapped from Dubai in 2021. He was later put on trial in his native Rwanda.
