The 63-year-old scholar did not attend the trial in person, with his defense claiming a "flare-up" of multiple sclerosis required hospitalization in Geneva. However, the court proceeded after a medical assessment declared him fit to stand trial.
Tariq Ramadan Sentenced to 18 Years in Landmark French Rape Trial The 63-year-old scholar did not attend the trial
Beyond the jail term, the court issued an arrest warrant and imposed a permanent ban from French territory following his sentence. Ramadan was found guilty of all three counts
Ramadan was found guilty of all three counts of rape, including the rape of a vulnerable person—a disabled woman known by the pseudonym "Christelle". Key Details of the French Sentencing Presiding Judge
In a major development following years of legal battles, a Paris criminal court has sentenced prominent Islamic scholar to 18 years in prison for the rape of three women between 2009 and 2016 . The March 2026 verdict represents a significant fall from grace for the former Oxford University professor, whose legal troubles began at the height of the #MeToo movement in 2017. Key Details of the French Sentencing
Presiding Judge Corinne Goetzmann emphasized that "consenting to sexuality is not consenting to any sexual act whatsoever," noting the "extreme gravity" of the crimes. A Pattern of Legal Battles