Tariq Ramadan Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Rape in France
The Paris Criminal Court on Wednesday sentenced Swiss Islamic theologian Tariq Ramadan to 18 years in prison for raping three women. The verdict marks one of the most prominent cases linked to the “MeToo” movement in France.
Ramadan, 63, was sentenced in absentia as he currently resides in Switzerland. The court found that he raped three women in Lyon and Paris between 2009 and 2016. He previously spent 10 months in pre-trial detention.
Ramadan consistently denied the allegations but later admitted to having contact with the women, who described him as manipulative, domineering, and brutal.
France has issued a warrant for his arrest. Following the completion of his sentence, he is expected to be banned from entering France permanently. Ramadan is as well required to pay compensation to the victims.
The sentence aligns with the prosecution’s request, but its enforcement hinges on Ramadan’s apprehension in France. Switzerland’s policy of not extraditing its citizens currently prevents his transfer to France to serve his sentence. Deutsche Welle reports that this creates a significant obstacle to enacting the sentence.
Previous Conviction in Switzerland
In August 2024, Ramadan was convicted in Switzerland of rape and sexual assault. DW notes that the Swiss Supreme Court rejected his appeal in 2025, upholding a sentence of three years in prison, two of which were suspended.
Ramadan’s Absence from Trial and Health Claims
While required to remain near Paris, Ramadan left France, citing hospitalization in Geneva for multiple sclerosis. However, a court-ordered medical assessment determined his health allowed him to stand trial, but he continued to evade the proceedings. Le Monde details this aspect of the case.
Background and Family History
Ramadan is the grandson of Hassan al-Banna, the founder of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, and a proponent of European Muslim identity. He gained prominence among young European Muslims with immigrant backgrounds. Deutsche Welle provides this contextual information.
Before the allegations surfaced in 2017, Ramadan was a professor of contemporary Islamic studies at Oxford University and held visiting positions at universities in Qatar and Morocco. Le Monde reports that he was forced to accept a leave of absence when the rape allegations emerged during the height of the “Me Too” movement.
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