The new Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission Marie-Claire Mukasine has said that an assessment made after visits to terror suspect Paul Rusesabagina has concluded that his rights are being respected, even according him extra benefits as compared to fellow inmates.

Rusesabagina, who was arrested in August last year and slapped with 13 charges related to terror, is suspected to be the founder, leader, sponsor and member of terror outfits including MRCD and PDR-Ihumure, operating out of various places in the region and abroad.

She said this on Friday, June 11 while addressing the press to shed light on the status of the suspect after media reports alleged that he was being denied food and medication.

"The visit was aimed at ensuring that Rusesabagina’s rights to not be tortured, not be discriminated against, access to health, social welfare, and due process of law are respected,” she said.

Mukasine said that this is not the first visit that her office has paid to the suspect, saying that since he stepped on Rwandan soil, her commission has followed him up every step of the way and has religiously attended all his court sessions.

She said that the commission conducted interviews in private with Rusesabagina and some of co-detainees on his detention situation.

Rights being respected

Mukasine said that her Commission established that Rusesabagina’s had not been tortured and he has never been subjected to inhuman and degrading treatments.

She pointed out that the Commission also learnt that Rusesabagina is given access to his medical doctor at any time he expresses the need and any medication that is prescribed is promptly purchased.

"Every single day, Rusesabagina gets access to a nurse twice a day who checks his vitals. In particular, he has received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and he regularly receives facemasks,” she said.  

Mukasine said that Rusesabagina is being detained in a spacious and clean room with two other detainees and the room has enough light and fresh air, proper bedding and a mosquito net.

She said that he is being given his own adequate sanitary facilities.

On his meals, Mukasine said that although Rusesabagina was initially being given special meals paid for by the correctional facilities, he is now eating the same food like other detainees and given enough clean drinking water.

"Rusesabagina is allowed to offer himself special meals from the prison canteen at any time and has actually started using his own money that is saved on the prison mobile money account to access the meals,” she said.

Mukasine explained that the money that Rusesabagina is using today was put on the correctional facility’s mobile money account by his lawyer.

"His lawyer put this money on the account but also, when Rusesabagina arrived in the country, he had some money and on his advice, he said that some of that money should be put on that account and the rest sent to someone of his choice for safe-keeping,” she said.

She said that Rusesabagina informed her team that he is currently being facilitated to speak with members of his family once a week and he has full access to his lawyers and case file.