FERDINAND NAHIMANA, JEAN-BOSCO BARAYAGWIZA, HASSAN NGEZE v. THE PROSECUTOR

FERDINAND NAHIMANA, JEAN-BOSCO BARAYAGWIZA, HASSAN NGEZE v. THE PROSECUTOR

The Appeals Chamber held that the ICTR's temporal jurisdiction is limited to crimes committed in 1994, but evidence from outside this period may be considered for context or intent. The Chamber found that the Trial Chamber erred in convicting the appellants for certain crimes based on acts outside the temporal...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
ICTR-99-52-A
Parties
Appellant: Ferdinand Nahimana; Appellant: Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza; Appellant: Hassan Ngeze; Respondent: The Prosecutor
Court
International Tribunal for Rwanda
Jurisdiction
Rwanda
Judgment Date
27 November 2007
Case Number
ICTR-99-52-A
Procedural Posture
Appeal / Appeals Chamber Judgment
Outcome
Appeals allowed in part; convictions and sentences revised.
Legal Topics
Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity, Direct and Public Incitement to Commit Genocide, Conspiracy to Commit Genocide, Superior Responsibility, Freedom of Expression, Hate Speech, Fair Trial Rights
Source Language
en
International Criminal Law Human Rights Law Genocide Crimes Against Humanity Direct and Public Incitement to Commit Genocide Conspiracy to Commit Genocide Superior Responsibility Freedom of Expression +2 more

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Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

Ferdinand Nahimana

Appellant

Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza

Appellant

Hassan Ngeze

Appellant

The Prosecutor

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Appeal / Appeals Chamber Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the appellants were properly convicted for genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, extermination and persecution as crimes against humanity; whether hate speech alone can constitute persecution; the scope of superior responsibility for media-related crimes; the temporal jurisdiction of the Tribunal; the adequacy of the indictments; the fairness of the proceedings.

Ratio Decidendi

The Appeals Chamber held that the ICTR's temporal jurisdiction is limited to crimes committed in 1994, but evidence from outside this period may be considered for context or intent. The Chamber found that the Trial Chamber erred in convicting the appellants for certain crimes based on acts outside the temporal jurisdiction, for conspiracy to commit genocide, and for cumulative convictions under both Articles 6(1) and 6(3) for the same conduct. The Chamber affirmed that direct and public incitement to commit genocide is an inchoate crime and that hate speech, when part of a widespread or systematic attack, can constitute persecution as a crime against humanity. The Chamber set aside...

Court Disposition

Appeals allowed in part; convictions and sentences revised.

Orders

  • Convictions for conspiracy to commit genocide, genocide (under Article 6(1)), direct and public incitement to commit genocide (under Article 6(1)), extermination and persecution (under Article 6(1)) set aside for Nahimana; convictions under Article 6(3) for direct and public incitement to commit genocide and...
  • Convictions for conspiracy to commit genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide (under Article 6(1)), and all convictions under Article 6(3) for RTLM and CDR acts set aside for Barayagwiza; convictions under Article 6(1) for instigating genocide, ordering/instigating/planning extermination, and...