Rwanda tribunal affirms genocide conviction of Hutu singer

03/19/10: JURIST reports that the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda on Thursday affirmed the genocide conviction of popular Rwandan singer-songwriter Simon Bikindi. The charge was based on a speech Bikindi gave during the 1994 Rwanda genocide in which he called on Hutus to rise up and exterminate the Tutsis. Prosecutor Justice Hassan Bubacar Jallow appealed the 15-year sentence given to Bikindi in January on the grounds that it was inadequate punishment for "direct and public incitement to commit genocide." Bikindi appealed on the basis that the sentence was disproportionate to the gravity of the offense and that court erred in its evaluation of his association with extremist militia group, Interahamwe. The court rejected both appeals.