Rwanda opposition leader loses genocide law challenge
Victoire Ingabire, who has been in custody for two years accused
of bankrolling terrorism as well as denying the genocide, filed a suit in March
contesting the legality of Rwanda's genocide ideology laws.
"The court finds no contradiction between the genocide
ideology law and the constitution. It is true the constitution grants freedom
of expression and speech but the genocide ideology law puts limitations to
avoid violations of the freedoms," the nine-man panel of judges said in
its ruling.
The genocide denial charges against Ingabire were triggered by
remarks in January 2010 at the memorial to the estimated 800,000 people, the
majority of them Tutsis, who were killed in the slaughter.
Ingabire, herself a Hutu, said it was time Hutu war victims were
also commemorated.
Ingabire appeared in a courtroom packed with supporters from her
Unified Democratic Forces (FDU-Inkingi) party.
"I do not agree with the decision of the Court,"
Ingabire told journalists as she left the courtroom under close guard.
In September, eight members of the FDU-Inkingi were arrested in
western Rwanda
"We have written to the UK High Commission expressing our
concerns," FDU-Inkingi secretary general Sylvain Sibomana told AFP, adding
that donor countries should advise Kigali
"Any person who criticises the government is jailed,"
Sibomana said, citing the cases of three other opposition figures facing
similar charges.
Ingabire, an outspoken critic of President Paul Kagame, has been
in custody since October 2010, and has boycotted proceedings of her trial in
the High Court since April after the tribunal cut short a witness who accused
the authorities of rigging evidence against her.
The High Court is expected to pronounce its verdict on Friday.
In April, prosecutors asked the court to sentence Ingabire to life
in prison.
The prosecution claims to have evidence of Ingabire's
"terrorist" activities, including proof of cash transfers to the
Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda, a Hutu rebel movement based in
neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
However, the FDU-Inkingi accuses Rwandan authorities of
fabricating evidence against its leader, with the sole aim of preventing her
from participating in the political affairs of the small central African
country.
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posted by Mamadou Kouyate @ 6:54 PM
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