“Rich Gang” vs. Law 60/2018

Dearest Reader… 7 Young Rwandans aged between 20-28 are in Jail as we e-speak. Their crime? Electronic publication of indecent materials and public indecency as codified in Law 60/2018(Articles 38 & 143) Facts seem to be: 9 friends (6 girls 3 boys) were in a whatsapp group “Rich Gang”. Occasionally recorded adult content & sold it to a private audience. Material later found its way online, unclear whether or not it was leaked. Possible sentence 3-5years.

First things first, every nation is sovereign & has complete authority over its territory. This means, if Rwanda is a conservative nation, Rwanda can set conservative laws! His Excellency, President Paul Kagame briefly touched on the rationale. “Young people roam practically naked. This nudity is not just physical; it also reflects emptiness in the mind, which is the real issue…”

US Laws are a bit different. (I speak of US not because US is a model but bc I’m based here.) US too recognizes that Freedom of Speech has limits! Obscene materials for example are unprotected speech. The difference between US & Rwanda seems to be, WHAT is considered obscene? In US, one of the question posed to determine what is obscene is: does material lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value? As such, most adult content is acceptable since courts found “even ideas with the slightest redeeming social importance—unorthodox ideas, controversial ideas, are protected.” However some material is criminal & irredeemable like for example depiction of minors.

In the Rwandan context though, the legislative body seeks to preserve Indangagaciro Nyarwanda (Pillars of Rwandan Culture.) I read ”Indangagaciro Z’umuco Nyarwanda”- Igitabo nyobozi published by the Ministry of Sports & Culture. These were my findings:

(Quick Fascinating Parenthesis- Turns out- Kugira umururumba n’ubusambo. (Glutony) stands against acceptable Rwandan norms…)

More importantly though, a fundamental pillar of our culture is ubupfura (nobility)- “Kirazira kwiyandarika.” For example, it is forbidden to expose oneself in an unrespectable manner as this brings dishonor to your family name and your nation as a whole. This may seem like a foreign concept to many but after scanning comments, seems like the majority of the Rwandan public agrees with the arrest. People in the comments even talking about “I know of other offenders, call me.”

Really, I’m just trying to find out who the snitch is…