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Rwandan authorities’ should stop the practice of detaining people illegally


Rwandan authorities' should stop the practice of detaining people illegally.

DECEMBER 19, 2012 10:04 PM
Global Campaign for Rwandans' Human Rights investigation has discovered that several overcrowding prisons in Rwanda have an increasing numbers of detainees among inmates who have finished their sentences or acquitted by courts but never been released.
Despite continuous requests to Rwanda Correction Services in charge of prisons and to the Ministry of Justice by many of those detainees, they have been ignored. No reasons for their continuous detention are being given to them.
This is clearly breaching those prisoners basic human rights and freedom.
We urge the Ministry of Justice the following:
 To identity prisoners who have finished their sentences or acquitted by courts and release them without delay.
 To officially apologies to all prisoners who have been detained illegally and give them compensations.
- To ensure that no one will be detained anymore for one more day beyond their sentence period.
Below are names of some prisoners who are illegally detained and whose release dates are long overdue.
1. Mussa Murenzi – Detention date: 26/06/1997 – Sentence length: 15 years – Gacaca Kimisagara
2. Martin Birinda – Detention date: 23/10/1996 – Sentence length: 15 years – Court: Gacaca Nyarugenge
3. Francois Rurinda – Detention date – 28/05/1997 – Sentence length: 15 years – Court: Gacaca Cyahafi
4. Leopord Gashumba – Detention date – 20/01/1997 – Sentence length: 15 years – Court: Gacaca Kimisagara
5. Emile Hakizimana – Detention date – 02/10/1994 – Sentence length: 15 years – Court:Gacaca Kinyinya
6. Theopiste Jinalake – Detention date: 18/06/1997 – Sentence length: 15 years – Court: Gacaca Muhima
7. Jean Baptiste Shirubute – Detention date – 08/09/1994 – Sentence length: 15 years – Court: Gacaca Mageragere
8. Francois Mugabarisiga – Detention date – 15/05/1997 – Sentence length: 15 years – Court:Gacaca Nyarugenge
9. Emile Murwanashyaka – Detention date – 18/12/2010 – Sentence length: 1 year and 6 months RP005/11TGI/GASABO (Ref.)
10. Sauteur Biramahire Sauteur – Detention date – 19/11/1994 – Innocent acquitted
GCRHR – Rwanda
rwanda@rwandansrights.org 

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