Charles Onana convicted for denying the Rwandan genocide

In December 2024, a court in Paris, France, found writer Charles Onana and his publisher, Damien Serieyx, guilty of denying the Rwandan genocide that occurred in 1994. The court's ruling marked a significant moment in French jurisprudence, being the first time an author has been condemned for challenging the reality of this historical atrocity. The writer denied the occurrence of genocide in his book titled 'Rwanda, the Truth about Operation Turquoise - When the Archives Speak.' The book included controversial assertions that the concept of genocide ascribed to the 1994 killings was a fabrication, arguing that both Tutsis and Hutus were involved in the violence, which he claimed prevented his depiction from being one-sided. The court ruling was based on a 2017 amendment to France’s press law that makes it illegal to deny recognized genocides, aiming to protect historical accuracy and uphold the memory of victims. Onana's narrative has been met with significant criticism; scholars argue that it distorts factual history. The judgment also emphasized the commitment to not allowing historical revisionism and underscored the French legal system's stance on genocidal denial. Following the decision, Onana and his publisher faced fines totaling nearly $15,000 and were required to pay over $11,000 to human rights organizations. Both individuals have indicated plans to appeal the ruling.