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| Paul Rusesabagina: Hotel Rwanda hero set free | |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Paul Rusesabagina photographed in court in February 2021 | Paul Rusesabagina photographed in court in February 2021 |
| Paul Rusesabagina, a former hotel manager portrayed as a hero in the Hollywood film Hotel Rwanda, has been released from prison in Kigali. | |
| Two years ago, he was sentenced to 25 years for terrorism by a Rwandan court in what supporters called a sham trial. | Two years ago, he was sentenced to 25 years for terrorism by a Rwandan court in what supporters called a sham trial. |
| A government spokesperson said Mr Rusesabagina's sentence had been "commuted by presidential order". | A government spokesperson said Mr Rusesabagina's sentence had been "commuted by presidential order". |
| Mr Rusesabagina, 68, is credited with saving some 1,200 people during the 1994 genocide. | Mr Rusesabagina, 68, is credited with saving some 1,200 people during the 1994 genocide. |
| US President Joe Biden called the news of his release a "happy outcome". | |
| "Paul's family is eager to welcome him back to the United States, and I share their joy at today's good news," he said in a statement. | |
| It has taken years of diplomatic pressure and talks brokered by Qatar for Mr Rusesabagina to be released. | It has taken years of diplomatic pressure and talks brokered by Qatar for Mr Rusesabagina to be released. |
| Much of that pressure came from the United States, where he had lived since 2009. The Biden administration has said he was "wrongfully detained". | Much of that pressure came from the United States, where he had lived since 2009. The Biden administration has said he was "wrongfully detained". |
| His family say the Rwandan government lured him from Texas, where he had permanent residency, back to Rwanda in 2020. | His family say the Rwandan government lured him from Texas, where he had permanent residency, back to Rwanda in 2020. |
| Mr Rusesabagina left Rwanda in 1996. His story remained largely unknown for a decade, while he worked as a taxi driver in the Belgian capital, Brussels. | Mr Rusesabagina left Rwanda in 1996. His story remained largely unknown for a decade, while he worked as a taxi driver in the Belgian capital, Brussels. |
| It was featured in a section of journalist Philip Gourevitch's 1998 book about the genocide, but it was the 2004 Hollywood movie, where he was played by Don Cheadle, that brought him global attention. | It was featured in a section of journalist Philip Gourevitch's 1998 book about the genocide, but it was the 2004 Hollywood movie, where he was played by Don Cheadle, that brought him global attention. |
| The Hollywood hero convicted of terrorism | The Hollywood hero convicted of terrorism |
| Africa Live: The latest updates from around the continent | Africa Live: The latest updates from around the continent |
| The Rwandan genocide lasted 100 days from April 1994, when 800,000 people, mostly from the Tutsi ethnic group, were slaughtered by extremists from the Hutu community. | The Rwandan genocide lasted 100 days from April 1994, when 800,000 people, mostly from the Tutsi ethnic group, were slaughtered by extremists from the Hutu community. |
| Mr Rusesabagina - a hotel manager at the time - protected some 1,200 people from the violence, after they sought shelter in the building. | Mr Rusesabagina - a hotel manager at the time - protected some 1,200 people from the violence, after they sought shelter in the building. |
| The following year he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-US President George W Bush for his efforts. But he became a fierce critic of Rwanda's President Paul Kagame. | The following year he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-US President George W Bush for his efforts. But he became a fierce critic of Rwanda's President Paul Kagame. |
| In a 2018 video message, Mr Rusesabagina called for a regime change, saying that "the time has come for us to use any means possible to bring about change in Rwanda". | In a 2018 video message, Mr Rusesabagina called for a regime change, saying that "the time has come for us to use any means possible to bring about change in Rwanda". |
| He was arrested in 2020, when, according to his supporters, a private jet he believed would take him to Burundi, instead landed in the Rwandan capital Kigali. | He was arrested in 2020, when, according to his supporters, a private jet he believed would take him to Burundi, instead landed in the Rwandan capital Kigali. |
| In September 2021 he was found guilty of backing a rebel group behind deadly attacks in 2018 and 2019 in Rwanda. | In September 2021 he was found guilty of backing a rebel group behind deadly attacks in 2018 and 2019 in Rwanda. |
| Mr Rusesabagina was freed alongside Callixte Nsabimana, spokesman of the Rwanda Movement for Democratic Change - an opposition political party. | Mr Rusesabagina was freed alongside Callixte Nsabimana, spokesman of the Rwanda Movement for Democratic Change - an opposition political party. |
| A spokesperson for the Rwandan government said: "No-one should be under any illusion about what this means, as there is consensus that serious crimes were committed, for which they were convicted. | A spokesperson for the Rwandan government said: "No-one should be under any illusion about what this means, as there is consensus that serious crimes were committed, for which they were convicted. |
| "Under Rwandan law, commutation of sentence does not extinguish the underlying conviction. | "Under Rwandan law, commutation of sentence does not extinguish the underlying conviction. |
| "Rwanda notes the constructive role of the US government in creating conditions for dialogue on this issue, as well as the facilitation provided by the state of Qatar." | "Rwanda notes the constructive role of the US government in creating conditions for dialogue on this issue, as well as the facilitation provided by the state of Qatar." |
| More about the Rwandan genocide: | More about the Rwandan genocide: |
| Rwanda's 100 days of slaughter | Rwanda's 100 days of slaughter |
| 'My father, the rapist': Hidden victims of Rwanda's genocide | 'My father, the rapist': Hidden victims of Rwanda's genocide |
| The genocide orphans still searching for their names | The genocide orphans still searching for their names |
| Between April and July 1994, an estimated 800,000 Rwandans were killed in the space of 100 days. | Between April and July 1994, an estimated 800,000 Rwandans were killed in the space of 100 days. |
| Between April and July 1994, an estimated 800,000 Rwandans were killed in the space of 100 days. | Between April and July 1994, an estimated 800,000 Rwandans were killed in the space of 100 days. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Rwanda | Rwanda |