Rwanda’s Mufti, Sheikh Mussa Sindayigaya, has urged Muslims convicted of participating in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to sincerely repent and seek forgiveness from both God and those they harmed.
He made the appeal during a commemoration event marking the 32nd anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi, organized by the Muslim community in Rwanda.
Sheikh Sindayigaya recalled that during the genocide period, the Muslim community in Rwanda publicly condemned the killings and called for unity, peace, and respect for human dignity. He noted that the then leadership issued a clear statement rejecting genocide ideology and emphasizing that no one should be targeted on ethnic grounds.
He stressed that individuals who ignored those principles and were later convicted for genocide-related crimes committed serious violations that contradict the teachings of Islam.
According to the Mufti, those found guilty must acknowledge their crimes, show genuine remorse, and seek forgiveness as part of the broader national process of justice and reconciliation.
He reaffirmed the Rwanda Muslim Community’s commitment to promoting unity, reconciliation, and the continued fight against genocide ideology and all forms of divisionism.
Speakers at the event also paid tribute to the former RPA-Inkotanyi forces for stopping the genocide, saying their intervention saved countless lives and ended the massacres.
Participants called on young people to learn from Rwanda’s history and actively counter genocide denial and distortion of facts, particularly on social media platforms.
The commemoration ended with renewed calls to preserve the memory of the Genocide against the Tutsi, support survivors, and continue building a united Rwanda free from discrimination and division.
