• Tariq Ramadan sentenced to 18 years in prison for raping three women.
• The Paris court emphasized the "extreme seriousness of the offenses" involved.
• Ramadan was tried in absentia after not attending the trial due to health issues.
• He faces a permanent ban from French territory after completing his sentence.
• Victims described traumatic experiences, contributing to the severity of the sentencing.

Swiss Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan has been sentenced to 18 years in prison by a Paris criminal court for the rape of three women, marking a significant outcome in a case that began in the wake of the #MeToo movement in 2017. The verdict reflects a culmination of multiple allegations against Ramadan, who did not appear at his trial, citing health issues, which the court rejected as valid for non-attendance. Presiding Judge Corinne Goetzmann stated the acts committed warranted the severe sentence due to their "extreme seriousness", leading to a lifetime ban from French territory after his release, according to SCMP, Le Monde, and Middle East Eye.

The court heard that the incidents involved the rape of vulnerable individuals, emphasizing that "consenting to sexuality does not mean consenting to any and all sexual acts," a statement from Judge Goetzmann highlighted. The court's rationale included testimonies from victims describing harrowing experiences, including being physically assaulted, which underscored the gravity of the crimes. Ramadan's lawyer criticized the trial process, deeming it a "farce," yet the court maintained its stance on the severity of the charges, according to Le Monde and BBC.

Furthermore, prior to the trial, Ramadan had been convicted in Switzerland for a separate rape case, which may have influenced the French court's judgment. The case rekindled discussions surrounding issues of consent and accountability in cases of sexual violence, particularly as two of the three women involved came forward during the MeToo movement. Victim Henda Ayari, after the verdict, expressed that justice had been served and noted the prolonged suffering faced by many victims, indicating systemic challenges faced in such cases, as reported by SCMP, Le Monde, and BBC.