Free Mushayidi
The Campaign
Deo Mushayidi is a Rwandan journalist and the founding president of the Party for Democracy and Renewal (PDP-Imanzi). In 2010 he was abducted from Burundi, forcibly returned to Rwanda, and prosecuted on charges of threatening state security and minimising the genocide. In 2011 he was sentenced to life imprisonment in a trial that independent observers condemned as politically motivated.
Why It Matters
Mushayidi's crime was peaceful political activity: founding an opposition party and speaking the truth about the regime's human rights record. His prosecution for 'genocide minimisation' is part of a wider pattern in which the memory of the genocide is weaponised to silence critics and criminalise dissent.
Our Demands
The Global Campaign for Rwandans' Human Rights demands the immediate and unconditional release of Deo Mushayidi, access to adequate medical care, and international pressure on the regime to end the imprisonment of opposition politicians. A journalist should not spend his life in prison for his opinions.
Take Action
Write to the President of Rwanda
Make your voice heard. Write directly to President Paul Kagame and ask him to act on our request. Your letter can help secure justice, freedom, and dignity for the victims of human rights violations in Rwanda.
Addressed to the Office of the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Kigali. Join others in calling for accountability and respect for human rights. You can also report abuse or request advocacy through us.