Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan. | Picture credit score: AP
A Swiss appeals courtroom discovered distinguished Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan responsible of rape and sexual coercion practically 16 years in the past and sentenced him to at least one yr in jail, overturning an acquittal by a decrease courtroom.
In a written judgment revealed on Tuesday (10 September 2024), the Geneva courtroom sentenced Ramadan, 62, to 3 years in jail, of which two have been suspended, in keeping with a replica of the choice. He was ordered to pay damages to the plaintiff, in addition to authorized and different charges totalling greater than 100,000 Swiss francs (about $118,000).
The decision included intimate particulars of how Ramadan allegedly compelled the lady to have intercourse and prevented her from leaving a Geneva lodge room in October 2008, in addition to social media exchanges they’d earlier than and after.
Ramadan can enchantment to Switzerland’s highest courtroom.
The decision comes about 17 months after a decrease courtroom acquitted him, citing lack of fabric proof.
The unique acquittal marked a primary victory for the world-renowned former Oxford tutorial who suffered a brutal fall from grace after comparable allegations in neighbouring France in 2018.
Ramadan faces a doable trial in France over allegations by a number of different ladies that surfaced greater than 5 years in the past.
Ramadan, who’s Swiss, was preliminarily charged with rape for 2 alleged assaults in France greater than a decade in the past. He was jailed in February 2018 and launched on bail 9 months later, pending trial.
A 3rd girl filed a criticism towards him for rape in France in March final yr.
The outspoken tutorial has persistently denied wrongdoing and filed a lawsuit saying the allegations have been false.
Printed – September 10, 2024 09:30 pm IST
