Tell Congress: Help Free Hotel Rwanda Hero Paul Rusesabagina

Your assistance is desperately needed to help bring an international hero home to his family.

Paul Rusesabagina is an internationally revered humanitarian hero whose brave actions saved 1,268 people during the Rwandan Genocide, a story that was later depicted in the movie Hotel Rwanda. He is a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, a devoted advocate for peace and human rights, and a passionate critic of authoritarianism. In August 2020, Paul was kidnapped, blindfolded, tied up, and illegally taken across borders to Rwanda, where he has been detained on false terrorism charges ever since.

The Rwandan government is releasing almost no information and deliberately interfering with his right to a fair trial. They forced him to use government-appointed attorneys for 92 days, denied him the right to speak to his international counsel, and have monitored all his statements and communications. What’s more - since Paul is a Belgian citizen who did not voluntarily come to Rwanda and no extradition process was followed, any legal proceedings he’s subjected to in Rwanda are illegal from the outset under international law.

Rusesabagina’s family is extremely concerned for his well-being and they are pleading with the international community to get involved. “Paul is a cancer survivor and heart patient who requires daily medication,” said a spokesperson for the family. His family has had limited contact with him since his disappearance, and Paul has been hospitalized at least three times during his detention for unknown reasons. His family has requested to visit him immediately, to make certain that he is safe, and to ensure his swift release.

If you live in the United States, please fill in your address to send an email to your U.S. representative and U.S. senators asking them to write Rwandan President Paul Kagame urging Paul Rusesabagina's release.

For More Information:

Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation

"It’s International Genocide Prevention Day; Why is Rwanda Hero Rusesabagina still in jail?," Alyson Chadwick, 9 December 2020