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Rabat – A Paris criminal court has handed an 18-year prison sentence to Swiss Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan after finding him guilty of rape involving three women.
Judges delivered the verdict on Wednesday after closed-door proceedings held without the defendant present.
The court ruled that the seriousness of the acts justified the sentence, which aligns with the prosecutor’s request.
It also imposed eight years of post-release judicial supervision, a permanent ban from French territory, and strict limits on any public statements or publications related to the case. An arrest warrant issued earlier this month remains active.
Ramadan did not attend the hearings that began on March 2. His lawyers pointed to a hospital stay in Geneva linked to multiple sclerosis. A medical assessment later found no recent deterioration that would prevent him from appearing in court.
Judges refused to delay the trial. His defense team then left the courtroom, arguing that they could not represent him under those conditions. The court moved forward and issued its decision in absentia.
The case concerns accusations from three women over rape incidents that date from 2009 to 2016.
One of the complainants, activist Henda Ayari, filed a complaint in 2017 and brought wider attention to the case. Ramadan has consistently denied the allegations.
Judges found him guilty of rape, including one count that involves violence and a vulnerable victim. The presiding judge stressed during the ruling that consent to intimacy does not grant permission for all acts, and it can be withdrawn at any given moment.
Court points to violence and psychological harm
According to the court’s reasoning, the testimonies describe encounters that began with consent but turned into acts marked by violence. One woman spoke of a moment where she feared for her life.
The court also addressed the time gap between the alleged assaults and the complaints. It stated that delays do not weaken the credibility of victims, noting that only a small share of rape survivors choose to file a complaint.
Judges concluded that Ramadan showed a form of domination that denied the victims’ autonomy and caused deep psychological harm.
Ayari reacted with visible emotion, saying she had waited years for the decision and felt heard by the court.
Ramadan’s defense rejected the outcome. One of his lawyers described the trial as unfair and argued that the sentence is of excessive severity.
