Oxford University Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan is convicted of rape in Switzerland after appeals court overturns previous acquittal

A Swiss appeals court today found Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan guilty of rape and sexual coercion in a Geneva hotel 15 years ago, overturning last years lower court acquittal.

The court said it annuls the judgement of 24 May 2023 and sentenced the former Oxford University professor to three years in prison, two of them suspended.

Ramadan in May was acquitted of the charges and awarded around 151,000 Swiss francs (£135,000) in compensation from the Swiss canton of Geneva over the case.

But lawyers for Ramadans accuser, identified under the assumed name of Brigitte, made good on their vow to appeal the ruling.

A Swiss appeals court today found Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan guilty of rape and sexual coercion in a Geneva hotel 15 years ago, overturning last years lower court acquittal

Swiss leading Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan (L) and lawyers Yael Hayat (C) and Theo Badan leave the Geneva courthouse after the verdict by the prosecutor on a sexual assault investigation, in Geneva, Switzerland, 24 May 2023

The plaintiff who goes under the name of Brigitte arrives at Geneva courthouse on May 24, 2023

Swiss leading Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan passes a security check as he arrives with his wife Iman at the Palais de Justice (Law Court) of Paris, on February 13, 2020

The case was the first time Ramadan has been tried for rape, although he risks facing a trial in France on similar charges.

The Swiss trial presented two diametrically opposed versions of what happened in a Geneva hotel room in October 2008.

The lawyer representing Brigitte, a convert to Islam, said she was repeatedly raped and subjected to torture and barbarism.

Ramadan, a charismatic yet controversial figure in European Islam, rejected the charges, insisting there was no sexual activity between him and Brigitte, and saying he was the victim of a trap.

Brigitte was in her forties at the time of the alleged assault in 2008. She filed a complaint 10 years later, telling the court she felt emboldened to come forward following similar complaints filed in France.

Both parties agreed that Ramadan and Brigitte spent the night together in the hotel room, which she left early the following morning.

Ramadan insisted that Brigitte invited herself up to his room, then let herself be kissed, before quickly ending the encounter.

The indictment accused Ramadan of sexual coercion and of committing rape three times during the night.

Tariq Ramadan leaves Genevas courthouse on May 24, 2023, after he was acquitted at the end of his trial for rape and sexual coercion in a case dating back 15 years

Swiss leading Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan (C) looks on as he leaves Geneva courthouse flankd by his lawyers Theo Badan (L) and Yael Hayat (R) in Geneva

Swiss leading Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan leaves court after he was acquitted on charges of sexual assault

During the trial, the defence insisted on Ramadans innocence and stressed there was no scientific evidence in the case.

His lawyers also accused Brigitte and the women who have brought charges against him in France of forging links to bring down the Islamic scholar, citing Ramadanphobia.

During his final statements in court earlier this year, Ramadan asked not to be tried on his real or supposed ideology and urged the judges not to be influenced by the media and political noise.

Forget Im Tariq Ramadan! he said.

Controversial among secularists who see him as a supporter of political Islam, Ramadan obtained a doctorate from the University of Geneva, with a thesis focused on his grandfather, who founded Egypts Muslim Brotherhood movement.

He was a professor of contemporary Islamic studies at Oxford until November 2017 and held visiting roles at universities in Qatar and Morocco.

He was forced to take a leave of absence when rape allegations surfaced in France at the height of the Me Too movement, over suspected attacks between 2009 and 2016.