US laywer being held in Rwandan prison on charges of genocide denial sees legal team

US lawyer held in Rwandan prison sees legal team

NAIROBI, Kenya — An official from an international lawyers’ group says an American lawyer charged with genocide denial in Rwanda has been allowed to see his lawyers.

Alison Turner, a board member of the International Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, said Sunday two lawyers representing Peter Erlinder were allowed to see him late Saturday. Turner says Erlinder may get his first hearing on Monday.

Erlinder is in Rwanda to help defend presidential hopeful Victoire Ingabire against charges of promoting genocidal ideology. He was arrested by the Rwandan police Friday. Ingabire is running against Rwandan President Paul Kagame in the Aug 9 elections. Over 500,000 people died during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.