WASHINGTON, June 17, 2021 – The American Bar Association Center for Human Rights, as part of the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s TrialWatch initiative, issued a report on the ongoing criminal trial against Paul Rusesabagina in Rwanda.
Rusesabagina is best known for his efforts to save lives during the Rwandan genocide, as depicted in the film “Hotel Rwanda.” The report finds Rusesabagina’s fair trial rights – in particular, his right to confidential communication, his right to the presumption of innocence, and his right to prepare his defense – have been violated, potentially to the irreparable prejudice of the defense, calling into question the fairness of any potential convicting verdict.
The report takes no position on the merits of the charges.
A copy of the report can be read here.
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The Clooney Foundation for Justice's TrialWatch initiative monitors criminal prosecutions of vulnerable persons around the world. For more information, go to https://cfj.org/project/trialwatch/