Rwandan police arrest 40 over genocide ideology

Rwandan police have detained about 40 people over cases related to genocide ideology that were recorded during the genocide commemoration week ended Wednesday.

Police spokesperson Celestin Twahirwa told reporters on Thursday that close to 40 people are being investigated for genocide ideology.

"We have so far recorded a number of people suspected of spreading harmful information related to genocide denial and trivialization within their communities. We have them in our custody and investigations are ongoing to find out more about their cases," he said.

In Rwanda, genocide ideology is punishable under the law.

According to the law, genocide ideology is a deliberate act, committed in public, whether orally, written or video or by any other means, which may depict ethnic, religious, or racial bias with the aim of advocating for the commission of genocide or supporting genocide.

Rwanda penal code indicates that any person who commits the crime of genocide ideology and other related offences shall be liable to a term in jail of a period between five and nine years, and a fine of between 134 and 1,340 U.S. dollars.

According to available statistics from the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), genocide ideology in the Rwanda has dropped by 84 percent since 1994.

In the last three years, 180 cases were reported in 2013, 138 in 2014, and 168 in 2015.

Source: XINHUA