Yvonne Idamange
Writer, businesswoman and government critic
Serving a fifteen-year sentence for her speechA mother of four and outspoken critic of the government, Yvonne Idamange was arrested after speaking out during the COVID-19 lockdown and sentenced to fifteen years in prison in a prosecution condemned as a punishment for her opinions.
Yvonne Idamange is a Rwandan writer, businesswoman and mother of four who became known for her outspoken online criticism of the Rwandan government.
In April 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, she published videos criticising the government's response and the conduct of local officials, and questioned the official narrative of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Within days she was arrested. She was beaten at the time of her arrest, a treatment she documented publicly before her trial began.
In July 2021 she was convicted on charges including inciting violence and genocide denial and sentenced to fifteen years in prison. Human rights organisations and United Nations experts have condemned the case as a demonstration of how Rwanda's courts and its genocide denial laws are used to silence critics rather than to protect anyone from harm.
The Global Campaign for Rwandans' Human Rights demands her immediate and unconditional release.
History
April 2020
Publishes videos criticising the government's COVID-19 response and is arrested within days.
2020
Documents being beaten at the time of her arrest, before her trial begins.
July 2021
Convicted of inciting violence and genocide denial and sentenced to fifteen years in prison.
Today
She remains in prison for her speech. We demand her immediate and unconditional release.
Campaigns & Statements
Our campaigns, statements and reports connected to Yvonne Idamange.