Rwandan YouTube star jailed by ‘humiliating’ state officials News

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Dieudonné Niyonsenga, whose YouTube channel has more than 15 million times a seven-year prison sentence.
A Rwandan government has been criticized for using its YouTube channel, a seven-year prison sentence by a Kigali court, for controlling an increasingly dissident crackdown in a well-controlled East African nation.
Dieudonné Niyonsenga, whose YouTube channel Ishema TV had more than 15 million ethnic views, was found guilty on Thursday of falsifying four charges, including name-calling, and “humiliating” state officials.
“We are immediately appealing this verdict against Niyonsenga. It is just right,” his lawyer Gatera Gashabana said on Friday.
The court found Niyonsenga had pledged to commit the crimes intentionally and coupled the sentence with a Rwandan five million ($ 4,900) fine.
“Because of the detrimental consequences of his crimes on Rwandan society, the court has ordered the immediate arrest of Dieudonne Niyonsenga and the execution of a prison sentence,” the judge said in sentencing.
Niyonsenga, better known for his YouTube persona Cyuma, which means “Iron”, was known on his channel for discussing human rights violations.
Following the verdict, the YouTube star said police surrounded her home. Police and prison officials have not confirmed whether Niyonsenga has been in custody after being sentenced in absentia.
His Jailing comes with a high-profile YouTube following after critics were sent to jail for weeks.
Last month, the Rwandan authorities he arrested six people Journalists and members of the opposition party, including members accused of publishing rumors, allegedly started an uprising.
Nsengimana Theoneste, running Umubavu TV – an online Youtube channel, often criticized by government airs content, was among those arrested.
Niyonsenga has already been arrested in April 2020, after a series of videos denouncing soldiers abusing serious abuses against residents of the neighborhood after enforcing a strict coronavirus blockade.
Shortly afterwards, he was charged with breaking the blockade and falsifying a journalist, and sent him to jail.
He was acquitted and released 11 months later, but the prosecutor appealed to a higher court.
The crackdown on the creators of YouTube has also affected Chilling Rwanda, where it has been repealed by independent media and other forms of free expression that are strictly controlled by the government.
Criticism has accused President Paul Kagame of backing the current government from human rights abuses and stability after years of genocide, and has had the support of Western donors to boost economic growth.
In March, Human Rights Watch sounded the alarm about the crackdown. Kagame has denied the allegation of abuse.
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