Accused War Criminal Waiting in Quebec

A 59-year-old accused of inciting the 1994 genocide in Rwanda may be deported from Canada next week to face criminal charges.

Léon Mugesera, a former Rwandan politician accused of inciting genocide, has been released from hospital in Quebec City. Mugesera reportedly became ill when he was told he would have to leave the country this week. The 59-year-old has been fighting his deportation for 15 years, claiming that he would face death or torture if he returned to Rwanda after two decades. Rwanda issued a warrant for his arrest for making a speech urging Hutus to kill Tutsis, whom he called “cockroaches” and “scum.” Despite a 2005 unanimous Supreme Court ruling that Mugesera was not admissible to Canada, the process of extradition has been slow and riddled with appeals. Just last Wednesday, the UN Committee Against Torture asked Canada to let him stay until they could review his case.