A Rwandan court has sentenced Paul Rusesabagina, hero of  ‘Hotel Rwanda,’ a Hollywood film, to 25 years in prison.

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According to Aljazeera, the law court in the capital of Kigali, on Monday, convicted Rusesabagina of terrorism.

‘Hotel Rwanda’ is a 2004 film adapted from the life of Rusesabagina, who is a politician and one-time hotelier.

It is based on the Rwandan genocide, which occurred during the spring of 1994, and portrayed Rusesabagina as a hotel manager who saved 1,000 refugees by providing them with shelter in the besieged Hôtel des Mille Collines.

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The movie and Rusesabagina’s role during the genocide has long been a subject of debate, particularly in Rwanda.

After being portrayed in the 2004 film, Rusesabagina emerged as a critic of Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s rule.

The politician, who was initially hailed for his acts during the genocide, went from celebrated figure to state enemy.

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In August 2020, he was arrested and tried for charges of terrorism, arson, kidnapping, and murder of Rwandans.

The politician was found guilty of backing a rebel group in a series of attacks that killed nine civilians back in 2018.

He was also convicted of forming an illegal armed group, membership in a terrorist group, and financing terrorism.

The 67-year-old had earlier denied all charges, stating that he was abducted from Dubai this year to be put on trial.

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His supporters had similarly called the trial a “sham,” accusing Kagame of treating his political opponents ruthlessly.



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