Rwanda has officially closed its community courts after 10 years of trying those accused of involvement in the 1994 genocide. President Paul Kagame told lawmakers Monday that the courts, known as gacacas, exceeded people’s expectations. “The Gacaca courts were an important end in itself for justice and reconciliation. In fact they served a purpose far […]
Top French Court Throws Out Armenian Genocide Law
Posted February 28th, 2012 at 9:25 pm (UTC-5)
France’s top court has ruled that a controversial law making it a crime to deny the Armenian genocide at the hands of Ottoman Turks is unconstitutional. The Constitutional Council wrote that the law violates freedom of expression. French President Nicloas Sarkozy, who strongly supports the law, says he is disappointed. But he says he will […]
Rwanda Creates New Court for Genocide Cases
Posted February 16th, 2012 at 10:00 am (UTC-5)
Rwanda’s high court has established a special chamber to handle international crimes, including genocide cases transferred from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The U.N. tribunal, which was set up to try high-level suspects in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, is set to complete its work in 2014. Rwanda’s high court announced this week the new six-judge […]
Rwanda Creates New Court for Genocide Cases
Posted February 16th, 2012 at 9:45 am (UTC-5)
Rwanda’s high court has established a special chamber to handle international crimes, including genocide cases transferred from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The United Nations tribunal, which was set up to try high-level suspects in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, is set to complete its work in 2014. Rwanda’s high court announced this week the new […]
Rwandan Genocide Suspect Deported From Canada
Posted January 24th, 2012 at 8:20 am (UTC-5)
Rwanda’s foreign minister says Canada has deported a Rwandan man accused of helping to incite the country’s 1994 genocide. In messages posted Tuesday to the social media website Twitter, Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo says the suspect, Leon Mugesera, is airbound for the capital Kigali and is due to arrive there by midnight local time. Canadian […]
Canada to Deport Alleged Rwandan Genocide Inciter
Posted January 11th, 2012 at 12:15 pm (UTC-5)
A man accused of helping to instigate the 1994 Rwandan genocide has lost his battle to remain in Canada. Leon Mugesera had requested a stay on his deportation order but was turned down Wednesday by Canada’s Federal Court in Montreal. Mugesera, a Rwandan Hutu, allegedly helped incite the genocide with a 1992 speech in which […]
Two Rwandans Sentenced to Life for Genocide
Posted December 21st, 2011 at 10:10 am (UTC-5)
The U.N. tribunal for Rwanda has sentenced two former politicians to life in prison for their roles in the country’s 1994 genocide. Mathieu Ngirumpatse and Edouard Karemera were president and vice president of Rwanda’s then-ruling MRND party at the time of the genocide. The tribunal found them guilty on charges of genocide, war crimes, and […]
Former Rwandan Mayor Guilty on Genocide Charges
Posted November 17th, 2011 at 9:45 am (UTC-5)
The former mayor of a Rwandan town has been convicted on genocide charges in connection with the 1994 massacre of some 2,000 people in his district. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda sentenced Gregory Ndahimana to 15 years in prison on Thursday, after finding him guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity. Prosecutors had accused […]
Turkey Slams Sarkozy Over Armenian Genocide Comments
Posted October 7th, 2011 at 8:10 am (UTC-5)
The Turkish government has criticized French President Nicolas Sarkozy for saying Ankara should recognize the deaths of Armenians under Turkish rule nearly 100 years ago as genocide. Turkish European Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis was quoted by state media Friday as saying Mr. Sarkozy’s comments were inappropriate. He said it is “not the duty of politicians […]
Sarkozy Urges Turkey to Recognize Armenian Genocide
Posted October 6th, 2011 at 5:45 pm (UTC-5)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is urging Turkey to “revisit its history” and recognize the deaths of Armenians nearly 100 years ago as genocide. Mr. Sarkozy said during a visit to Armenia Thursday that the genocide of Armenians is a historical reality recognized by France. He calls collective denial worse than that by individuals. The French […]
