Washington DC, 27 March 2023 (TDI): The United States (US) Ambassador to United Nations (UN), Linda Thomas-Greenfield issued a statement applauding the safe return home of Paul Rusesabagina.
Welcome the news that Paul Rusesabagina will soon be back with his family – who I met with last year. We are thankful to the governments of Rwanda and Qatar for helping make this possible.
— Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield (@USAmbUN) March 26, 2023
“I welcome the news that Paul Rusesabagina will soon be back with his family, who I had the honor of meeting with last year,” Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said. “We are thankful to the governments of Rwanda and Qatar for helping make this possible.”
About Paul Rusesabagina
For the record, Paul Rusesabagina is a renowned human rights activist who gained international acclaim for his efforts to save more than 1,200 people during the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
His story was the subject of the Oscar-nominated movie “Hotel Rwanda.” However, in August 2020, Rusesabagina was kidnapped in Dubai.
After months, Paul Rusesabagina was released on bail in March 2021 and flown to Belgium, where he has been living with his family since then.
His safe return home to Rwanda was made possible after the government of Qatar facilitated his travel and the Rwandan authorities agreed to drop charges against him.
The details of his return remain unclear, but his family confirmed that he had arrived in Kigali on March 27.
So, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield has expressed her relief at Rusesabagina’s safe return and called for his rights to be respected.
“While we are relieved that Rusesabagina is no longer detained and can be with his family, we urge the Rwandan government to respect his rights and ensure that he receives a fair trial, consistent with international standards,” she said.
Furthermore, she added that the US government will continue to monitor the situation and advocate for human rights in Rwanda and around the world.
“We will continue to engage with the Rwandan government and other partners to promote respect for human rights and democratic principles, and to hold accountable those who violate them,” she stated.
Also Read: White House celebrates women champions of human rights 2023
In a nutshell, the safe return of Paul Rusesabagina is a positive development in a long and complex case that raised serious concerns about human rights in Rwanda.
The US government will continue to follow this issue closely and work to ensure that justice is served.
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