Minnesota law prof Erlinder says he’s relieved to be home after ordeal in Rwanda

Minnesota law prof detained in Rwanda returns home

MINNEAPOLIS — A Minnesota law professor who was imprisoned in Rwanda for challenging the official version of the country’s 1994 genocide says he’s relieved to be back home.

Peter Erlinder (UR’-lihn-dur) got a big hug from his wife Masako (muh-SAHK’-oh) as he arrived Tuesday afternoon at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Erlinder told reporters and about a dozen supporters that he made a mistake in believing that Rwanda had changed for the better. But he deferred most comments on his ordeal until a news conference on Wednesday.

Erlinder was in Rwanda to defend an opposition presidential candidate when he was arrested May 28 and accused of minimizing the genocide. He was freed last week on medical grounds.