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Léon Mugesera

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Léon Mugesera
Born1952 (age 71–72)
Gisenyi, Belgian Rwanda
NationalityRwandan
Canadian (1992-2012)
Alma materQuebec University
Known forHate Speech against Tutsi People before the Genocide
Political partyMRND
SpouseGemma Uwamariya
Conviction(s)Incitement to genocide
Imprisoned atMpanga International Prison

Léon Mugesera (born 1952)[1] is a convicted genocidaire from Rwanda who took residence in Quebec, Canada. He was deported from Canada for an inflammatory anti-Tutsi speech which his critics allege was a precursor to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. In 2016, he was convicted of incitement to genocide and sentenced to life in prison.[2]

Time in Rwanda

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An ethnic Hutu, Mugesera has been a member of the dominant Hutu MRND party, which had close ties to the military. He was MRND Vice-Chairman for Gisenyi prefecture.[3]

In February 1991, Mugesera authored a pamphlet accusing Tutsi of plotting to "exterminate the Hutu majority".[4] In a speech given on November 22, 1992 in Rwanda, Mugesera allegedly told 1000 party members that "we the people are obliged to take responsibility ourselves and wipe out this scum" and that they should kill Tutsis and "dump their bodies into the rivers of Rwanda."[5]

Do not be afraid, know that anyone whose neck you do not cut is the one who will cut your neck.

— Léon Mugesera on 22 November 1992, translation in official document 'Dockets: A-316-01 A-317-01', 2003[6]

Following this speech, Rwandan minister of justice, Stanislas Mbonampeka, issued an arrest warrant against him for inciting hatred. He fled with his family first to the Rwandan army and then to Quebec City in Quebec, Canada. Shortly afterwards, Mbonampeka resigned as minister of justice in protest.[citation needed]

Canada

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In Canada, Mugesera and his family arrived as refugees, but were quickly granted permanent resident status. Mugesera secured a job teaching at Université Laval.[7]

Accusation of war-crimes

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Philip Gourevitch, author of We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families, claims that Mugesera's 1992 speech gave necessary momentum to the anti-Tutsi hysteria that led to the genocide, saying that "[Mugesera] was one of the first to go in a major public speech and say, 'Look, our mistake in the past with the Tutsi minority has been allowing them to survive, has been allowing them to live. We must get rid of them.'"[1]

Deportation process

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In 1995, Canadian government lawyers began deportation hearings against Mugesera. Two immigration tribunals ordered his deportation, however, the Canadian Federal Court of Appeal overturned these verdicts. Justice Robert Décary, writing for the Court, held that there was no evidence linking the 1992 speech with the genocide which occurred two years later. In all cases Mugesera was represented by Quebec lawyer Guy Bertrand.

On August 1, 2001, Mugesera issued a statement, requesting a trial under Canada's new Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act.[8]

The decision of the Federal Court of Appeal was later overturned by an 8-0 decision of the Supreme Court of Canada on June 28, 2005, which upheld the original deportation order. The deportation was delayed because of concerns about the possible use of the death penalty in Rwanda,[9] Rwanda abolished their death penalty in 2007.[10] Mugesera then began fighting his deportation on the basis of fears he would be tortured in Rwanda.[11] As Canada would be reluctant to deport someone who could face torture, Kigali offered Canada "diplomatic guarantees" about the treatment of Mugesera.[12]

On January 23, 2012, a Quebec Superior Court judge rejected Léon Mugesera's bid to avoid deportation. Mugesera was deported via Montreal's international airport the same day by 4 PM.[13]

On April 15, 2016, Mugesera was convicted of incitement to genocide and inciting ethnic hatred and sentenced to life in prison by a Rwandan court.[14][15][16]

Appeal

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On September 25, 2020, Rwanda's Court of Appeal[17] in Kigali ruled against Mugesera's claim that his life sentence should be set aside.[18][19] He contended that his trial had been unfair and that the conditions of his imprisonment were inhumane. Mugesera's request for a retrial was denied. The Court panel rejected his claim that the recordings which were the basis of his incitement conviction were not authentic.[19]

African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights

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From 2017 to 2020 the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights deliberated over several charges brought by Mugesera.[20][21] In 2016, Rwanda's government had filed a declaration that it would no longer allow individual complaints to be heard by the African court. The court held that such declarations would only be effective after one year. Since Mugesera's complaint was filed within the year, it was held admissible, but Rwanda's government chose not to take part in the deliberations. Although the court rejected some of Mugesera's allegations (e.g. inadequate counsel) it accepted others (inhumane jail conditions, inadequate medical care).[20][22]

References

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  1. ^ Décary J.A.; Létourneau J.A.; Pelletier J.A. "Dockets: A-316-01 and A-317-01: Leon Mugesera, Gemma Uwamariya, Irenée Ruteman, Yves Rusi, Carmen Nono, Mireille Urumuri And Marie-Grâce Hoho vs. The Minister Of Citizenship And Immigration" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  2. ^ Allison, Desforges. Leave None to Tell the Story. pp. 67–69.
  3. ^ International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. "Case No. ICTR- 2000-56-I:The Prosecutor Against Augustin Bizimungu, Augustin Ndindiliyimana, Protais Mpiranya, Francois-Xavier Nzuwonemeye, Innocent Sagahutu: Indictment" (PDF).
  4. ^ Chrétien, Jean-Pierre; Kabanda, Marcel (2013). Rwanda, Racisme et Génocide : l'idéologie hamitique. Belin. p. 182. ISBN 978-2-7011-4860-1.
  5. ^ CBC News (June 28, 2005). "Alleged Rwandan war criminal must leave Canada: top court".
  6. ^ Translation in official document 'Dockets: A-316-01 A-317-01', 2003
  7. ^ Canadian Centre for International Justice. "CCIJ's Public Cases and Interventions: Mugesera". Retrieved 2012-01-23.
  8. ^ CTV News (August 1, 2001). "Accused Rwandan war criminal wants Canadian trial".
  9. ^ National Post (April 6, 2006). "Ottawa slow to deport Rwandan war criminal". Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
  10. ^ Amnesty International (2 August 2007). "Rwanda abolishes death penalty". Retrieved 2012-01-23.
  11. ^ Gazette (Montreal) (September 4, 2007). "Five top genocide suspects are living free in Canada, says Rwanda - and it wants them back to stand trial". Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
  12. ^ "LaPresse.ca | Actualités et Infos au Québec et dans le monde". Cyberpresse.ca. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 2019-02-09.
  13. ^ Andrew Chung, Quebec Bureau (January 23, 2012). "Montreal judge rejects Leon Mugesera's bid to avoid deportation to Rwanda". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
  14. ^ BBC (April 15, 2016). "Rwanda jails man who preached genocide of Tutsi 'cockroaches'". Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  15. ^ Gordon, Gregory S. (2017). Atrocity Speech Law: Foundation, Fragmentation, Fruition. Oxford University Press. p. 398. ISBN 978-0-19-061270-2.
  16. ^ "Affaire Léon Mugesera | Le Rwanda condamné pour traitement cruel et inhumain". La Presse (in French). 2020-11-27. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  17. ^ Rwanda's Court of Appeal
  18. ^ Karuhanga, James (2020-09-28). "Rwanda: Court of Appeal Stays Genocide Convict Mugesera's Life Sentence". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  19. ^ a b Kimenyi, Moïse. "Genocide Convict Dr Leon Mugesera Continues to Put Rwanda's Courts on Trial". The Chronicles. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  20. ^ a b "African Court Cases | Details of a case". african-court.org. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  21. ^ "Recent African Court Ruling Spells Trouble for Rusesabagina and Rwanda". Lawfare. 2021-04-07. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  22. ^ Staff Writer. "African Court Orders Rwanda to Compensate Genocide Convict Leon Mugesera $25,000". The Chronicles. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
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See also

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