French court hands Islam scholar Tariq Ramadan 18-year jail term for rape

Tariq Ramadan, a prominent Islam scholar, was sentenced to 18 years in prison by a French court for the rape of three women. The case originated in 2017 during the Me Too movement, with accusations spanning from 2009 to 2012 in locations including Paris and Lyon. Ramadan, who was absent from the trial citing health reasons, maintains his innocence and is seeking a new trial. An arrest warrant has been issued, but extradition from Switzerland, where he resides, is complicated. This sentence follows a previous conviction for rape in Switzerland.

Swiss Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan was sentenced to 18 years in prison by a Paris court on Wednesday for the rape of three women. Ramadan, a former Oxford University professor and controversial figure in European Islam, faced trial in Paris for rapes allegedly committed between 2009 and 2016. He did not attend the verdict, citing health issues, which the court disputed. Judge Corinne Goetzmann issued an arrest warrant for the 63-year-old. In addition to the prison sentence, Ramadan is barred from entering France after his release.