Rwandan court rules it can try Hotel Rwanda hero

Judge rules Paul Rusesabagina, a Belgian citizen, can face trial on ‘terrorism’ charges in Rwanda court.

The “terrorism” trial of the man who inspired the film Hotel Rwanda can be held in Rwanda, a judge there has ruled, rejecting Paul Rusesabagina’s argument that a court there cannot try him because he is no longer a citizen. Rusesabagina’s lawyer, Gatera Gashabana, said his client will appeal the decision about jurisdiction and present further arguments. “We cannot go ahead with the hearing of the case without having our objection heard,” he said on Friday. Rusesabagina has argued he is a Belgian citizen who was kidnapped and taken to Rwanda, a country he left in 1996. The judge, however, said the court does not find it relevant to talk about how he was detained.