13.01.12 - RWANDA/CANADA - CANADIAN JUDGES DELAY MUGESERA DEPORTATION TO RWANDA

Arusha, January 13, 2012 (FH) - Canadian judges ordered on Friday a stay of Léon Mugesera's deportation until January 20.

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The Rwandan citizen was slated for deportation to Rwanda on Thursday. He is on Kigali's list of most wanted genocide suspects. Rwanda accuses him notably of inciting genocide with an infamous 1992 speech calling for people to "send the Tutsis back home to Ethiopia".

Mugesera, who has been living with his family in Canada since 1993, has been fighting extradition for 15 years. However, on Wednesday morning the federal court rejected his last-ditch appeal. Following that decision, Mugesera was taken to hospital by ambulance, apparently unconscious.

The same day, United Nations Committee Against Torture requested that Canada keep Mugesera for another six months while it investigates his claims he'd be tortured in Rwanda.

The judges finally ordered a stay of deportation until Jan. 20, when Mugesera's lawyers are due back in court to discuss the UN Committee request.

ER/GF

© Hirondelle News Agency