[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 892 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 892

  Calling on the Government of the Republic of Rwanda to release Paul 
                 Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 1, 2022

 Mr. Castro of Texas (for himself, Mrs. Kim of California, Mr. Meeks, 
Mr. McGovern, Ms. Wild, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Phillips, and Ms. Schakowsky) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Calling on the Government of the Republic of Rwanda to release Paul 
                 Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds.

Whereas, in August 2020, Rwandan political activist Paul Rusesabagina, a United 
        States lawful permanent resident and a Presidential Medal of Freedom 
        Honoree, was extrajudicially transferred from Texas to Kigali, Rwanda, 
        by way of the United Arab Emirates, and subjected to an enforced 
        disappearance for three days before the Government of the Republic of 
        Rwanda acknowledged his detention, during which time he was reportedly 
        tortured;
Whereas, in December 2020, more than 36 Members of Congress wrote to President 
        Paul Kagame to urge him to return Paul Rusesabagina to the United States 
        and expressed grave concern with the manner in which the Government of 
        Rwanda extrajudicially transferred Mr. Rusesabagina from the United Arab 
        Emirates to Rwanda and then immediately placed him in solitary 
        confinement and charged him with multiple crimes;
Whereas, on February 11, 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on 
        ``Rwanda, the case of Paul Rusesabagina'', which in part ``[e]xpresses 
        deep concern about the violations of Mr Rusesabagina's rights; urges the 
        Rwandan authorities to allow Mr Rusesabagina to undergo a fair and 
        public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal 
        applying international human rights standards . . .'';
Whereas the American Bar Association's Center for Human Rights' June 2021 report 
        ``The Case of Paul Rusesabagina'' concluded that, ``it is clear that Mr. 
        Rusesabagina's fair trial rights - in particular his right to 
        confidential communication, his right to the presumption of innocence, 
        and his right to prepare his defense - have been violated, potentially 
        to the irreparable prejudice of the defense, calling into question the 
        fairness of any potential convicting verdict'';
Whereas, on September 20, 2021, the High Court of Rwanda convicted Paul 
        Rusesabagina of terrorism-related offences and he was sentenced to 25 
        years in prison;
Whereas United States Department of State Spokesman Ned Price announced on 
        September 20, 2021, that the United States Government is ``concerned by 
        the Government of Rwanda's conviction of U.S. lawful permanent resident 
        Paul Rusesabagina'' and stated that the ``reported lack of fair trial 
        guarantees calls into question the fairness of the verdict'';
Whereas, on October 7, 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on 
        ``The case of Paul Rusesabagina in Rwanda'', which ``[c]alls for the 
        immediate release of Mr Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds and for his 
        repatriation without prejudice to his guilt or innocence; demands that 
        the EU Delegation to Rwanda and the diplomatic representations of the 
        Member States strongly convey this request in their exchanges with the 
        Rwandan authorities''; and
Whereas Paul Rusesabagina is a cancer survivor and suffers from a cardiovascular 
        disorder and his family states that he has missed multiple medical 
        appointments, including cancer screenings: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) calls on the Government of Rwanda to immediately 
        release Paul Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds and permit 
        him to return safely to the United States;
            (2) calls on the Government of Rwanda to ensure Paul 
        Rusesabagina receives access to appropriate, qualified medical 
        professionals and all medical care necessary to guarantee his 
        physical integrity and psychological well-being;
            (3) urges the United States Government in all interactions 
        with the Government of Rwanda to raise the case of Paul 
        Rusesabagina and to press for his immediate release on 
        humanitarian grounds; and
            (4) expresses support to the family of Paul Rusesabagina 
        and their commitment to bringing Paul Rusesabagina home.
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