The United States has called for the release of a American defense lawyer detained by police in Rwanda.
Professor Peter Erlinder of the William Mitchell College of Law in Minnesota was arrested last week during a visit to prepare the defense of Victoire Ingabire, a Rwandan opposition leader.
Ingabire was charged with “genocide ideology" after declaring her intention to stand against President Paul Kagame in presidential elections planned for August. The New Times of Kigali, which is close to the Rwandan government, has reported that Erlinder is also to be charged with denying the 1994 genocide.
Speaking to journalists in Washington on Thursday, U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the U.S. government was pressing Rwanda "to resolve this case quickly" and to release Erlinder "on compassionate grounds."
The State Department announced on Friday that, during a meeting with Erlinder's family, "We explained our efforts to make sure that Rwandan authorities accord Mr. Erlinder due process under local law in a timely and transparent manner."
There was no public criticism of Rwanda for arresting a defense lawyer.
Erlinder's law school colleagues defended his work, saying he "exemplifies the great tradition of lawyers who take on the representation of unpopular clients and causes," according to a statement on the law school website.
The president of the American Bar Association, Carolyn B. Lamm, urged Rwanda to respect United Nations protocols on the role of lawyers, one of which she said stipulated that lawyers “shall not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes as a result of discharging their functions.”
The New Times reported said this week first that Erlinder was admitted to hospital after complaining about what it described as a "hoax" heart ailment, and then that he had attempted to commit suicide by overdosing himself with drugs.
News agencies later reported that U.S. consular officials told Erlinder's family he had taken an overdose of prescription medication to escape his jail cell and get into hospital.
The State Department said Friday that it had provided "extensive consular services and visits" and had taken measures to safeguard Erlinder's health and welfare.
