Hotel Rwanda hero ‘ kidnapped’ in Dubai: Kin
Johannesburg, Sept. 1: The man portrayed in the film Hotel Rwanda as saving the lives of more than 1,200 people from genocide was “kidnapped” while in Dubai, his family asserts, while authorities on Tuesday gave no details behind his arrest on accusations of terrorism.
Paul Rusesabagina’s appearance in handcuffs in Rwanda’s capital on Monday prompted concern among some human rights activists that the outspoken critic of Rwanda’s government was the latest example of it targeting dissidents
beyond its borders. Mr Rusesabagina is a Belgian citizen and a US permanent resident and has lived outside Rwanda since 1996, first in Belgium and then in Texas.
The 66- year- old has been an outspoken critic of President Paul Kagame for several years and is a key member of the Opposition Rwanda Movement for Democratic Change, which has an armed wing that engaged in a gunfight with government troops in 2018.
Rwandan authorities said they issued an arrest warrant for Mr Rusesabagina to answer charges of serious crimes including terrorism, arson, kidnap, and murder perpetrated against unarmed, innocent Rwandan civilians. The authorities cited “international cooperation” and gave no details but suggested that Interpol was involved. They did not say where or how he was apprehended.
Mr Rusesabagina’s adopted daughter, Carine Kanimba, said that she last spoke with him before he flew to Dubai last week but she didn’t know the exact nature of his trip.
“What they’re accusing him of is all made up,” she said. “There is no evidence to what they’re claiming … We know this is a wrongful arrest.”