Tariq Ramadan Receives 18-Year Prison Sentence in French Rape Case

Thu Mar 26 2026 21:04:51 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The prominent Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan has been handed an 18-year jail term after being found guilty of raping three women, a ruling that follows previous convictions in Switzerland. The case, which emerged during the #MeToo movement, highlights ongoing discussions around sexual violence and accountability.

Tariq Ramadan, a renowned Islamic scholar, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for raping three women. The French court's decision follows allegations that first surfaced during the #MeToo movement. Ramadan, who did not attend the trial, continues to deny the accusations and calls for a new trial citing a lack of fair representation. Meanwhile, one of the accusers expressed relief at the verdict, marking a significant moment in the pursuit of justice for victims of sexual assault.

A court in Paris has sentenced prominent Islam scholar Tariq Ramadan to 18 years in jail for raping three women, two years after he was given a jail term for a separate rape offence in Switzerland.

The French rape case unfolded in 2017, when two of the three women came forward during the Me Too campaign against sexual abuse and harassment.

Ramadan, a 63-year-old former professor of Islamic studies at St Antony's College in Oxford, did not attend the trial in Paris, although he has always denied the charges.

His lawyers said he was being treated in the Swiss city of Geneva for multiple sclerosis and condemned the trial as a farce.

Judge Corinne Goetzmann told the court that a warrant had been issued for Ramadan's arrest, however Switzerland does not have an extradition treaty with its neighbour.

Ramadan is also facing a permanent ban from French territory.

The court ruled that the 18-year jail term was justified by the extreme seriousness of the acts, adding, Consenting to sex does not imply consenting to any sexual act whatsoever.

One of the three women involved in the case, Henda Ayari, expressed her relief outside the court, stating that the judges had believed her and acknowledging the struggles she endured since coming forward.

Ramadan's case included allegations of sexual assault dating back to incidents in 2008 and 2009, with one woman accusing him of raping her in a Lyon hotel.

Additionally, Ramadan has claimed the allegations against him are part of a campaign to remove a Muslim intellectual from public discourse. He called for a new trial, asserting that he wants both parties present in court.

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