[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 892 Engrossed in House (EH)]

<DOC>
H. Res. 892

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                         July 14, 2022.
Whereas, in August 2020, Rwandan political activist Paul Rusesabagina, a United 
        States lawful permanent resident and a Presidential Medal of Freedom 
        Honoree, was extrajudicially transferred from Texas to Kigali, Rwanda, 
        by way of the United Arab Emirates, and subjected to an enforced 
        disappearance for three days before the Government of the Republic of 
        Rwanda acknowledged his detention, during which time he was reportedly 
        tortured;
Whereas, in December 2020, more than 36 Members of Congress wrote to President 
        Paul Kagame to urge him to return Paul Rusesabagina to the United States 
        and expressed grave concern with the manner in which the Government of 
        Rwanda extrajudicially transferred Mr. Rusesabagina from the United Arab 
        Emirates to Rwanda and then immediately placed him in solitary 
        confinement and charged him with multiple crimes;
Whereas, on February 11, 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on 
        ``Rwanda, the case of Paul Rusesabagina'', which in part ``[e]xpresses 
        deep concern about the violations of Mr Rusesabagina's rights; urges the 
        Rwandan authorities to allow Mr Rusesabagina to undergo a fair and 
        public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal 
        applying international human rights standards * * *'';
Whereas the American Bar Association's Center for Human Rights' June 2021 report 
        ``The Case of Paul Rusesabagina'' concluded that, ``it is clear that Mr. 
        Rusesabagina's fair trial rights--in particular his right to 
        confidential communication, his right to the presumption of innocence, 
        and his right to prepare his defense--have been violated, potentially to 
        the irreparable prejudice of the defense, calling into question the 
        fairness of any potential convicting verdict'';
Whereas, on September 20, 2021, the High Court of Rwanda convicted Paul 
        Rusesabagina of terrorism-related offences and he was sentenced to 25 
        years in prison;
Whereas United States Department of State Spokesman Ned Price announced on 
        September 20, 2021, that the United States Government is ``concerned by 
        the Government of Rwanda's conviction of U.S. lawful permanent resident 
        Paul Rusesabagina'' and stated that the ``reported lack of fair trial 
        guarantees calls into question the fairness of the verdict'';
Whereas, on October 7, 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on 
        ``The case of Paul Rusesabagina in Rwanda'', which ``[c]alls for the 
        immediate release of Mr Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds and for his 
        repatriation without prejudice to his guilt or innocence; demands that 
        the EU Delegation to Rwanda and the diplomatic representations of the 
        Member States strongly convey this request in their exchanges with the 
        Rwandan authorities'';
Whereas on May 19, 2022, the Department of State determined that Paul 
        Rusesabagina was ``wrongfully detained'', and that ``the determination 
        took into account the totality of the circumstances, notably the lack of 
        fair trial guarantees during his trial'', pursuant to the Robert 
        Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act (Public 
        Law 116-260); and
Whereas Paul Rusesabagina is a cancer survivor and suffers from a cardiovascular 
        disorder and his family states that he has missed multiple medical 
        appointments, including cancer screenings: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) calls on the Government of Rwanda to immediately release Paul 
        Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds and permit him to return safely to 
        the United States;
            (2) calls on the Government of Rwanda to ensure Paul Rusesabagina 
        receives access to appropriate, qualified medical professionals and all 
        medical care necessary to guarantee his physical integrity and 
        psychological well-being;
            (3) urges the United States Government in all interactions with the 
        Government of Rwanda to raise the case of Paul Rusesabagina and to press 
        for his immediate release on humanitarian grounds; and
            (4) expresses support to the family of Paul Rusesabagina and their 
        commitment to bringing Paul Rusesabagina home.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.