Islamic Scholar Tariq Ramadan Convicted of Rape in Swiss Appeals Court

A Swiss court found Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan guilty of rape in a Geneva hotel 15 years ago. He was sentenced to three years in prison, with two years suspended.

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A Swiss court has found Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan guilty of rape and sexual coercion. This event happened 15 years ago, in 2008, at a hotel in Geneva. The decision came after the court overturned an earlier ruling that had cleared him of the charges.

Ramadan, 62, used to be a professor at Oxford University. He has now been sentenced to three years in prison. However, two years of that sentence are suspended, meaning he will only serve one year in prison unless he breaks the law again.

The 2008 Hotel Incident

The case involves a woman named Brigitte. She is a Muslim convert who says that Ramadan invited her to his hotel room in Geneva. She said that once she was there, he raped her and did other violent things. Brigitte’s lawyer said that what happened to her was more than rape—it was “torture.”

Brigitte was in her forties at the time. She didn’t tell anyone about the incident for 10 years. In 2018, she decided to come forward because other women were also accusing Ramadan of similar crimes in France. This gave her the courage to speak up.

Ramadan’s Defense

Ramadan has always said he is innocent. He told the court that Brigitte came to his hotel room on her own and kissed him, but he stopped things before they went too far. He also said he was caught in a “trap” set by Brigitte.

In the first trial, Ramadan was found not guilty. The court said there wasn’t enough clear evidence, and some messages sent by Brigitte after the night made the situation more confusing. However, during the appeal, the judges saw things differently.

What Changed in the Appeal?

In this new trial, the court found more evidence to prove Ramadan was guilty. They looked at medical reports, witness statements, and expert opinions. All of these pointed to the fact that Brigitte was telling the truth. The court believed that Ramadan had power over Brigitte and committed the crime.

The appeals court canceled the decision made in May 2023 that had acquitted him. The final ruling was made on August 28, 2024, but it was only made public later, when Swiss broadcaster RTS reported it on Tuesday.

Ramadan’s Ongoing Legal Issues

Ramadan is well-known in Europe for his work as an Islamic scholar, but he is also a controversial figure. He worked at Oxford University and had teaching roles in Qatar and Morocco. In 2017, he had to take a leave from his job when rape allegations against him came out in France.

This Swiss case is not the only legal problem Ramadan faces. In France, three other women have accused him of rape, which allegedly took place between 2009 and 2016. His legal team is currently fighting to stop those cases from going to trial.

Ramadan’s lawyers are likely to appeal this Swiss court decision again at a higher level.