Thread by @LewisMudge

1/18 A LONG thread for those following the #Rusesabagina case in #Rwanda and the cloak-and-dagger circumstances of his arrest.

Rwanda routinely uses unlawful means of arrest/detention and torture on both real and perceived opponents. 2017 @hrw report: hrw.org/news/2017/10/1…

2/18 The list of names associated with unlawful disappearances, detentions and killings is long. Simply put, political opponents in #Rwanda die. Start with the 2019 killing of FDU member Syldio Dusabumuremyi.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/201…

3/18 Also in 2019, FDU member Anselme Mutuyimana, mysteriously dead. hrw.org/news/2019/03/1…

4/18 In 2018, FDU leader Boniface Twagirimana ‘disappeared’ from his prison cell in Mpanga hrw.org/news/2018/11/0…

5/18 in 2019, FDU member Eugène Ndereyimana, missing: hrw.org/news/2019/08/1…

6/18 Opponents also targeted in the courts. In 2020 convictions for Tom Byabagamba and @soaspolitics alum Frank Rusagara upheld. Crimes for the former insiders include criticizing lack of freedom of expression/economic progress and not respecting the flag. hrw.org/news/2020/01/1…

7/18 Byabagamba and Rusagara were first convicted in 2016 in a trial in which co-accused's allegations of torture were dismissed. The trial is a clear example of the misuse of the justice system to stifle freedom of expression. hrw.org/news/2016/04/0…

8/18 Political opponents beyond #Rwanda's borders are not safe from assassinations, attempted assassinations or threats. For more see: hrw.org/news/2014/01/2…

9/18 Some examples: former minister Seth Sendashonga who was murdered in Kenya in 1998. hrw.org/news/1998/05/1…

10/18 In 2010, an attempt to kill Kayumba Nyamwasa in South Africa. hrw.org/news/2014/10/2…

11/18 In 2014, Patrick Karegeya was murdered in South Africa. hrw.org/news/2019/01/1… An investigative unit said in written testimony that his murder and the attempt on Nyamwasa “were directly linked to the involvement of the Rwandan government.”

12/18 The 2013 case of Joel Mutabazi, who as a recognized refugee should have been protected, is also telling. He was forcibly returned from Uganda to Rwanda under sketchy circumstances, convicted of terrorism, got a life sentence. hrw.org/news/2013/11/0…

13/18 Another relevant case is of Kizito Mihigo, who was arrested and held incommunicado for 9 days in 2014. He told us that in that detention he was beaten, threatened, and forced to confess to crimes with which he was later charged. hrw.org/world-report/2…

14/18 Kizitio was sentenced to 10 years in 2015, but released w/ a pardon. He was rearrested in 2020 at the Burundi border. Days later he was found dead in his cell. Officials said he "strangled himself" but failed to conduct credible investigations hrw.org/news/2020/08/1…

15/18 Just before his death Kizito told us that he faced a serious risk of being killed by government agents.

In 2016 he made a recording from prison and describes how he was interrogated and beaten in front of current head of @Rwandapolice Dan Munyuza

16/18 #Rusesabagina faces serious charges and his 2018 pledge of "unreserved support"to the FLN armed group is serious.

But the gravity of the charges does not give Rwandan authorities free rein to resort to the crime of enforced disappearance.

17/18 Moreover, #Rusesabagina has already been declared guilty by the president who said, he "heads a group of terrorists that have killed Rwandans. He will have to pay for these crimes. Rusesabagina has the blood of Rwandans on his hands.” bbc.com/news/world-afr…

18/18 Kagame's statements and that authorities circumvented the legal process of extradition undermine the prospects that #Rusesabagina will get a fair trial in Rwanda. hrw.org/news/2020/09/1…

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