American Lawyer Wrongly Arrested in Rwanda

[Daemonaquila]

Source: Huffington Post

Professor Peter Erlinder, former president of the National Lawyers Guild, was arrested early today in Rwanda on charges of "genocide ideology." He had traveled to Rwanda's capital, Kigali, on May 23, to join the defense team of Rwandan presidential candidate Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza. Erlinder is reportedly being interrogated at the Rwandan Police Force's Kacyiru headquarters. Since his arrival in Kigali, the state-sponsored Rwandan media has been highly critical of Erlinder.

The Rwandan Parliament adopted the "Law Relating to the Punishment of the Crime of Genocide Ideology" (Genocide Ideology Law), on July 23, 2008. It defines genocide ideology broadly, requires no link to any genocidal act, and can be used to include a wide range of legitimate forms of expression, prohibiting speech protected by international conventions such as the Genocide Convention of 1948 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966...

"Professor Erlinder has been acting in the best tradition of the legal profession and has been a vigorous advocate in his representation of Umuhoza. There can be no justice for anyone if the state can silence lawyers for defendants whom it dislikes and a government that seeks to prevent lawyers from being vigorous advocates for their clients cannot be trusted. The entire National Lawyers Guild is honored by his membership and his courageous advocacy," said David Gespass, president of the National Lawyers Guild...

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/heidi-boghosian/american-lawyer-wrongly-a_b_593630.html

---

Peter Erlinder was arrested, essentially, for thoughtcrime in defending an opponent of the current Rwandan regime. To read more and see how you can help get him sprung, see http://www.nlg.org/news/press-releases/nlg-demands-immediate-release-of-attorney-peter-erlinder/

[Aleric]

1. Free Peter!

Rwanda is using the word and concept of genocide in the same way McCarthy used 'Communism' and America is currently using 'terrorism.' We can't necessarily define it but we think we know it when we see it and when we think we see it we are ready to suspend the constitution and abdicate all our liberties to be free of it.

[McCamy Taylor]

2. But doesn't the U.S, support the current Rwanda regime? That makes this guy "guilty".

He is lucky they don't "illegally rendition" him to Alabama for torture.