In 2019, a Boston Federal Court convicted Rwandan asylum seeker Jean Leonard Teganya of fraud and perjury for failing to disclose his involvement in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide on his political asylum application. Now, after serving five years in prison, he faces deportation back to Rwanda to stand trial for genocide—a fate shared by many Rwandan refugees.
Teganya’s case echoes a troubling pattern: a Rwandan refugee, particularly of Hutu ethnicity, is charged with genocide years after the events in question. Witnesses, often decades later, surface to make accusations, yet the evidence is typically lacking. Jurors may convict based on ethnic bias, assuming guilt based on historical narratives that paint Hutus as the sole perpetrators in the genocide that claimed approximately 800,000 Tutsi lives.
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This cycle of injustice has previously ensnared individuals like Beatrice Munyenyezi and Dr. Leopold Munyakazi, who faced severe repercussions for speaking against the dominant narrative surrounding the genocide. Munyakazi’s criticisms of the characterization of the events as purely genocidal highlighted the complexities of the Rwandan Civil War, which preceded the genocide.
Eric Nshimiye, another Rwandan refugee living in Ohio, is now in a similar predicament. He faces accusations from Rwandan witnesses who have emerged decades later, allegedly in retaliation for testifying in defense of Teganya. This pattern creates a chilling effect among Rwandan refugees, who fear reprisals for supporting one another.
The narrative surrounding the Rwandan Genocide is overwhelmingly one-sided, perpetuated by Western institutions and media. The portrayal of Hutus as the primary aggressors has become entrenched, leading to significant bias against any Hutu defendants in Western courts. This narrative is so pervasive that even official recognitions, like the UN’s renaming of the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda to emphasize the Tutsi victims, leave little room for alternative perspectives.
Despite this institutional bias, courageous voices have emerged, challenging the simplified narrative. Journalists and scholars have documented the broader context of the conflict, highlighting that the bloodshed was not confined to the infamous 100 days but occurred throughout the Rwandan Civil War. Their work underscores that Hutus also suffered greatly during this period and that accusations of genocide often lack a thorough evidentiary basis.
In Teganya’s deportation hearing, prosecutors are reiterating claims of his guilt based on the same ethnic biases that influenced his earlier trial. His defense argues that he has already faced significant punishment for immigration fraud, having been sentenced to eight years—far more than the typical one to 18 months for such offenses. Now, the central concern is whether Teganya will face torture if returned to Rwanda.
Human Rights Watch has documented a long history of torture and ill-treatment within Rwandan prisons, raising alarms about the safety of deported individuals. Despite recent legal actions against prison officials for abuses, the overarching climate of violence and repression remains a critical issue. Rwandan authorities have historically resisted external scrutiny, complicating any efforts to ensure accountability and humane treatment in detention facilities.
Under Article 3 of the UN Convention against Torture, no state should return individuals to places where they are at risk of torture. The evidence indicating Teganya’s potential for harm upon return to Rwanda is compelling, raising significant ethical and legal questions about his deportation.
As Teganya’s case unfolds, it highlights not only the personal struggles of individuals caught in the web of international justice but also the broader implications of how narratives and biases shape the outcomes for those accused in the aftermath of historical atrocities. The fight against his deportation is emblematic of the ongoing struggle for justice and recognition of the complexities surrounding the Rwandan genocide narrative.
