Humanitarian Paul Rusesabagina's Lawyer Denied Access to Client, Deported from Rwanda

BRUSSELS - Aug. 25, 2021 - PRLog -- This morning's press conference at the Brussels Press Club is here. This is in French, with translations into English. This morning's event featured Vincent Lurquin, Paul Rusesabagina's Belgian lawyer who was deported from Rwanda last week, where he went to attempt to visit Paul in prison.

During the press conference, Mr. Vincent Lurquin, talked about Paul Rusesabagina. Lurquin also discussed the fact that he was been arrested and expelled from Rwanda and the reasons why:

• Was it because he attended a postponement hearing while he is a lawyer?
• Was it because he should have requested a work visa to meet his client in prison?

No. The lies must stop. He was arrested simply because he was Paul Rusesabagina's lawyer. Rusesabagina is an opponent of the Rwandan regime but above all the symbol of the opposition to the genocide.

He saved 1268 people in 1994 at the Hôtel des Mille Collines, people who were promised certain death.

His story, through its telling in the movie Hotel Rwanda, has overshadowed the one who, for 27 years, has been the absolute master of Rwanda, President Paul Kagame.

Lurquin discussed the lingering questions of why did the Rwandan government  kidnap Rusesabagina? He brought the proof of this abduction and of the complicity of the Rwandan State.

Lurquin discussed the torture of Rusesabagina upon his arrival in Kigali - a fact that the authorities themselves do not dispute. And he discussed the denial of Rusesabagina's fundamental right which is his right to defense and the free choice of his counsel. Mr. Lurquin went to Rwanda to try to insure this fundamental right and clearly told this simple truth. This is the one and only reason for his expulsion.

Rwanda is the country of 1000 hills, but also the country of 1000 rumors.

On Wednesday, Lurquin told, element by element, that Paul Rusesabagina, Belgian, is a political prisoner.

Rwanda by expelling his lawyer has again crossed the red line. We ask that democracies worldwide  increase pressure and call for the rule of law to be followed in Rwanda and in Belgium.

Link to the video of the press conference which is posted on the Free Paul Rusesabagina Facebook page: https://fb.watch/7Cewx9EzD1/

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