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Mugesera addresses rally in Rwanda
Mugesera gave a speech at a partisan Hutu rally in Rwanda stating: "Anyone whose neck you do not cut is the one who will cut your neck." -
Mugesera applies for Canada refugee status in Spain
Mugesera leaves to Spain with his wife and five children. He applied for admission into Canada as a refugee on March 13, 1993. -
Mugesera and family move to Canada
After his refugee application was approved, Mugesera and his family move to Canada in August 1993. They settle in Quebec City. Mugesera becames a permanent resident of Canada. -
Genocide takes place in Rwanda
Rwanda explodes into three months of mass murder, with nearly 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus slaughtered by Hutu extremists. Mugesera's incendiary speech from 1992 was rebroadcast at the height of the genocide. -
Deportation proceedings start
In 1995, Canadian Citizenship and Immigration begin deportation proceedings against Mugesera after two tapes of the speech surfaced and the Rwandan government issued a warrant for his arrest. Mugesera's lawyer at the time, Guy Bertrand, claimed his client is a victim of political persecution because he is a sworn enemy of then Rwandan president Paul Kagami. -
Refugee Board orders deportation. Mugesera appeals.
In July 1996, Immigration and Refugee Board adjudicator Pierre Turmel determined that Mugesera's 1992 speech constituted "an incitement to violence and ethnic hatred." He determined that there was a reasonable basis to believe that the Rwandan political operative had incited murder, hatred, genocide and crimes against humanity and ordered the deportation of Mugesera. Mugesera appealed. -
Refugee Board upholds 1996 decision. Mugesera appeals.
In November 1998, the Immigration and Refugee Board appeal panel upheld Turmel's 1996 decision. Both tribunals found Mugesera's speech constituted a crime against humanity and that he lied to immigration officials in his refugee application. Mugesera appealed. -
Federal Court allows Mugesera to remain in Canada
In April 2001, the Federal Court rules Mugesera can remain in Canada with his wife and five children. Ottawa appealed to a higher court. -
Court of Appeal rules Mugesera not responsible for genocide. Officials appeal.
In September 2003, the Federal Court of Appeal rules Mugesera may have used colourful and even brutal language in the political speech he delivered, however, he was not responsible for genocide. Federal officials appeal. -
Supreme Court of Canada rules Mugessara must be deported.
The Supreme Court of Canada issues a unanimous 8-0 ruling declaring Mugesera inadmissible to Canada because his speech helped incite the genocide. -
Mugesera holds press conference asking to be tried in Canada
Mugesera holds a news conference in Quebec City asking the Federal Government to try him for crimes against humanity here in Canada. He claims he would not get a fair hearing in Rwanda and compares himself to Christ on the cross. -
Mugesera applies for temporary stay of deportation on grounds of torture in Rwanda
In late 2005, Mugesera applies for a pre-removal risk assessment. This is a temporary stay of deportation available as a last recourse to anyone ordered removed from Canada, on the grounds he would face torture. -
Rwanda continues to pressure Canada to return Mugesera
Rwanda continues to press Ottawa to return Mugesera to his homeland to stand trial. "It's important to have him stand trial at home," Rwandan Ambassador to Canada Edda Mukabagwiza said in an interview at the time. "There are victims of the genocide here in Canada and in Rwanda who are seeking justice." -
Canada confirms decision to deport Mugesera. He seeks a stay of removal.
Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration sends Mugesera an 80-page decision: he will be deported from Canada. Mugesera hires a lawyer to seek a stay of the removal order in Federal Court in a final attempt to remain in the country. -
Mugesera hospitalized
Mugesera's family confirms that he is in "critical condition" in a Quebec City hospital, where he spent a second straight day. Media reports said he might have ingested medication that made him ill, following his deportation order Wednesday. -
Mugesera's deportation day
Mugesera gets reprieve as judge delays deportation to RwandaThis is the date the Canada Border Services Agency set for Mugesera's deportation from Canada. -
Mugesera in detention centre
Leon Mugesera ordered to remain at Montreal-area detention centre until he is scheduled to return before an immigration board in a week's time if he is still in Canada. He is described as a flight risk who couldn't be trusted, given his hospitalization last week just a day before he was scheduled to be deported. -
Mugesera is deported from Montreal to Rwanda
Accused war criminal deported to Rwanda Leon Mugesera is deported to face trial for genocide in Rwanda, marking the end of a 15-year court battle and a last ditch effort to stay in Canada. -
Rwandan governement commends Canada's decision
"Leon Mugesera's deportation, while decades past due, is welcome news for a people committed to healing and justice,'' said a note from the Twitter account of Rwanda's Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo. "Canada did the right thing." -
Canadian government confirms deportation of Mugesera
Canadian government confirms deportation Immigration Minister Jason Kenney made the announcement in Montreal. He said that, for 16 years, Mugesera abused tools available to him to avoid deportation. Kenney said all necessary steps have been taken to ensure Mugesera won't be tortured by current Rwandan authorities.