It’s Illegal To Insult President, Confirms Rwandan Supreme Court

Johannesburg – The Supreme Court in Rwanda has rejected a challenge to a law which says it is a crime to insult the president. The law which was introduced last year means that anyone insulting President Paul Kagame faces between five and seven years in prison, the BBC reported.

Lawyer Richard Mugisha had argued that the law which was introduced last year was unconstitutional as it undermined freedom of expression. The court ruled that it should remain due to the responsibility that the office holds.

However, a law that stipulates that writing articles or drawing cartoons which humiliate MPs should be annulled, the same court ruled.

Mugisha’s attempt to also have a law which criminalises adultery overturned was also rejected by the Supreme Court.