Tariq Ramadan to Stand Trial for Aggravated Rape and Assault Charges
In a significant development, the Cour de cassation has upheld the decision to send Tariq Ramadan to trial for aggravated rape and assaults on three women between 2009 and 2016. This decision marks a crucial moment in the #MeToo era, as the prominent Swiss Islamologist faces serious legal consequences.
Ramadan had contested the accusations against him, but the highest French judicial authority rejected his appeals, solidifying his trial before the cour criminelle départementale of Paris. The case, which began in late 2017, has been emblematic of the #MeToo movement.
Following a six-year investigation, two examining magistrates had ordered Ramadan's trial for rapes involving 'Christelle' (a pseudonym), Henda Ayari, Mounia Rabbouj, and a fourth woman. The court of appeal in Paris had previously mandated a trial for Ramadan for aggravated rape and assaults on two other women.
During the recent hearing, both the reporting counselor and the attorney general advocated for the rejection of Ramadan's appeals, emphasizing the Court of Cassation's role in verifying legal errors rather than reassessing the case's substance. The accusations against Ramadan have centered on the use of violence as a primary tactic in the alleged assaults.
In a related development, Ramadan was sentenced in Switzerland to three years in prison, with one year to be served, for a 2008 case involving rape and sexual coercion. His legal team has appealed to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, the country's highest judicial authority.
This decision by the Cour de cassation sets the stage for a high-profile trial that will further scrutinize the allegations against Tariq Ramadan, shedding light on a case that has captured widespread attention and sparked discussions about accountability and justice in cases of sexual assault and misconduct.
