French-Cameroonian journalist and author Charles Onana and his publishing director Damien Serieyx, have been convicted by a Paris court for denying and minimizing the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

The ruling was issued by the 17th Criminal Chamber of the Paris Judicial Court on Monday, December 9.

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The court described Onana's writings as an "endless deployment of negationist ideology.”

According to French advocacy group Association Survie, one of the organisations that filed the complaint against Onana, the verdict underscored France’s firm stance against Genocide denial and revisionism.

Onana, 60, faced charges related to his 2019 book "Rwanda: The Truth about Operation Turquoise,” which critics say distorts historical facts and downplays the atrocities of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

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The trial, which began on October 7, spanned four days and featured testimonies from several witnesses, including General Jean-Claude Lafourcade, who led the controversial French-led Operation Turquoise during the Genocide.

Historic ruling against Genocide denial

This decision marked the first conviction in France for contesting the Genocide against the Tutsi, and set a legal precedent to protect the memory and dignity of Genocide victims.

The court dismissed the defense's argument that Onana’s work was a legitimate attempt to explore the complexities of the Genocide.

Defense witnesses, including five French soldiers, claimed that Onana’s analysis stemmed from a sincere scholarly approach. However, the court deemed the book’s content a deliberate attempt to rewrite history.

The verdict follows a complaint filed by organizations, such as the advocacy group Survie, the Collective of Civil Parties for Rwanda (CPCR), and Ibuka France, which represents Genocide survivors.

The plaintiffs argued that the book not only minimized the genocide but also perpetuated dangerous narratives absolving perpetrators of their crime.

The verdict delivery process is still underway.

Onana and Serieyx have been fined €70 per day for a period of 120 days, amounting to a total of €8,400.

The court ruled that the duo must pay the full amount within 120 days. Failure to comply will result in a 120-day prison sentence.

However, if they manage to settle the payment within 30 days, they will receive a 20 percent discount. This discount, however, is surpassed at a maximum of €1,500.