Ingabire loses Supreme Court petition

The Supreme Court yesterday rejected an application filed by Victoire Ingabire, challenging the constitutionality of the Genocide Ideology Law. Ingabire had filed the suit claiming that the constitution grants her the right to freedom of expression.“The court finds no contradiction between the law and the constitution. it is true the constitution grants freedom of expression and speech, but the Genocide Ideology Law puts limitations to avoid abuse of those freedoms,” a nine-man panel of judges announced.In her trial, which began in September 2011, the High Court found her statements at Kigali Memorial Centre – Gisozi to be in clear violation of the Genocide Ideology Law of July 2008.Ingabire allegedly espoused the double Genocide theory, and during an appearance before the Supreme Court, she again claimed that she found nothing wrong in accusing Tutsis of killing Hutus the same way Hutus killed Tutsis.Ingabire was not represented by her lawyers in the fully packed courtroom.The Supreme Court cited the international law and several cases related to hate speech, including that of a Canadian teacher, James Keegstra, who was charged with teaching anti-Semitism.Ingabire, accused of bankrolling terrorism and denying the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, brought a suit in March this year contesting the legality of genocide ideology law.Meanwhile, the High Court is expected to announce its verdict today.She is accused, among other charges, of terrorism after evidence presented by the prosecution and witness accounts linked her to a group of militiamen based in the Democratic Republic of Congo with whom she allegedly planned to carry out subversive activities on Rwandan territory. Four rebel officers who were part of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) militia confessed to working with Ingabire to stage subversive activities in the country. The prosecution is seeking a life sentence.

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Ingabire loses Supreme Court petition