The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is proud to announce the release of a new podcast, “After Hotel Rwanda,” produced by Foreign Policy magazine and sponsored by HRF. The four-part podcast series explores the abduction of Rwandan human rights activist Paul Rusesabagina and the incredible effort it took to bring him home.
Thirty years ago, during the genocide in Rwanda, Rusesabagina saved more than 1,200 Hutus and Tutsis, offering them shelter in his hotel. His heroism drew the ire of warlord and de facto ruler Paul Kagame, and a 1996 assassination attempt forced Rusesabagina to flee the country. In 2004, his bravery was portrayed in the film “Hotel Rwanda,” and in 2005, he received the US Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In 2020, he was kidnapped by the Rwandan regime, labeled a “terrorist,” and arbitrarily imprisoned for two and a half years. While imprisoned, his daughters worked tirelessly to bring global attention to his case and pressure the US government to seek his return home. In May 2023, he was released.
“After Hotel Rwanda” tells of Rusesabagina’s heroic feats during the Rwandan genocide and the backlash he faced 26 years later. Listen to episode one of the four-part series today. New episodes will be released every Tuesday throughout May on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major podcast platforms.
You can hear Rusesabagina’s story firsthand at the 2024 Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF) on June 3-5 in Oslo, Norway. Learn more at oslofreedomforum.com.
The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies.
For interview requests or media inquiries, please email media@hrf.org.