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Paris Court Convicts Tariq Ramadan In Absentia, Sentences Him To 18 Years

An international arrest warrant now tests how France can enforce the ruling against a Swiss citizen.

Overview

  • The Paris criminal court found Ramadan guilty of raping three women and, in a ruling delivered Wednesday evening, imposed an 18‑year prison term in his absence.
  • Judges barred him from contacting the women and ordered a permanent ban on entering France after any prison time.
  • Ramadan stayed in Switzerland and cited multiple sclerosis and hospital care, but court‑appointed doctors said he was fit to attend the trial.
  • French authorities issued an international arrest warrant, yet enforcement is uncertain because Switzerland generally does not extradite its own nationals.
  • He was also convicted in Switzerland in August 2024 in a separate rape case, which adds cross‑border complexity to where and how any sentence could be served.