Islamic Scholar Tariq Ramadan Sentenced to 18 Years for Rape in Paris
A Paris criminal court has delivered a severe sentence of 18 years in prison against Swiss Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan, who was found guilty of multiple rape charges. The convictions stem from assaults alleged to have occurred against three women between 2009 and 2016.
Ramadan was tried in absentia, with the proceedings held behind closed doors. He did not appear for the hearings, which commenced in early March. His legal team cited a hospitalization in Geneva, attributed to his ongoing battle with multiple sclerosis, as the reason for his absence. However, a medical evaluation deemed him fit to attend. Consequently, the court opted to proceed with the trial in his absence.
The prosecution had previously called for the same 18-year prison term. In addition to the custodial sentence, they requested an arrest warrant and a permanent ban from French territory upon the completion of his sentence.
Ramadan’s defense lawyers staged a boycott of the court’s final hearing on Wednesday. This action followed the rejection of their request for a one-week postponement of the trial. One of Ramadan’s lawyers, Ouadie Hamamouchi, expressed strong dissent following the verdict. “The trial ends as it began, as a farce,” he stated. “While the facts were strongly contested, the severity of the sentence, combined with a permanent ban from French territory, reflects a relentless pursuit against Tariq Ramadan. The defense is justified in refusing to legitimize this mockery of justice.”
Key Details of the Case:
- Accusations: The case involves allegations of rape brought forward by three distinct plaintiffs.
- Initial Complaint: Henda Ayari was among the accusers and filed the initial complaint in 2017, which triggered the subsequent legal investigations.
- Ramadan’s Defense: Tariq Ramadan has consistently denied the allegations of rape. He has, however, acknowledged engaging in what he described as “passionate sexual relations” with the accusers, which he maintained were consensual.
This conviction in Paris adds to a series of legal challenges Ramadan has faced concerning sexual violence allegations. He has been embroiled in multiple legal proceedings related to such accusations for nearly a decade. Notably, he has already received a prison sentence in Switzerland. In a separate case, he was sentenced to three years in prison, with one year to be served, for similar charges. The cumulative legal battles underscore the gravity and complexity of the accusations against him.
