Saturday, June 12, 2010

Finland sentences Rwanda preacher to life for genocide

A Finnish court has sentenced a Rwandan preacher to life in jail for his participation in Rwanda's genocide.

Francois Bazaramba, 59, moved in 2003 to the Scandinavian country which allows prosecutions for crimes against humanity wherever they are committed.

The court said he had intended to "destroy in whole or part the Rwandan Tutsis as a group", AP reports.

About 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by Hutu militias in the 100-day slaughter in 1994.

His lawyers told Reuters news agency that he would appeal against the sentence.

Mr Bazaramba has been held in detention in Finland since 2007, four years after seeking asylum there.

SIC: BBC