The family of Paul Rusesabagina, who was the subject of the Oscar-nominated film Hotel Rwanda, has filed a $400 million (£307 million) lawsuit in the United States, alleging his kidnapping and torture.
In what supporters called a sham trial, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for terrorism by a Rwandan court last year.
His family claims that the Rwandan government enticed him back to Rwanda from exile in Texas.
During the 1994 genocide, he is credited with saving over 1,200 people.
Rusesabagina’s family claimed in a statement that the Rwandan government and high-ranking officials conspired to “facilitate and execute an elaborate plot to lure” Rusesabagina from his home in San Antonio to Rwanda, “where he would be tortured and illegally detained for the rest of his life.”
The $400 million compensation sought will “increase every day that Paul Rusesabagina is held in captivity,” according to the statement.
According to the statement, the complaint was filed in Washington, DC, and served on the Rwandan government, which has yet to comment publicly or respond to the BBC’s request for comment.
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