Safer to stay silent: The chilling effect of Rwanda's laws on 'genocide ideology' and 'sectarianism'

Amnesty International, 2010, 37 Seiten

Rwanda's laws banning "genocide ideology" and "sectarianism" are vague and sweeping, and have been used to silence legitimate dissent. The laws, introduced in the decade after the 1994 genocide, were desinged to encourage unity and restrict speech that could lead to hatred. However, they have had a dagerous and chilling effect on Rwandan society.

In the run-up to the August 2010 presidential elections, these laws were used to restrict legitimate political activity.

This report outlines Amnesty International's concerns about these laws on paper and in practice. It calls on the government of Rwanda to ensure that, while outlawing acts of genocide and incitement to genocide, it upholds its international obligations to respect and protect freedom of expression.