In a surprising turn of events, a Swiss appeals court has overturned a previous acquittal and found renowned Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan guilty of rape and sexual coercion dating back nearly 16 years. The 62-year-old Ramadan has been sentenced to a year in prison, with two years suspended, according to a written ruling made public on Tuesday.

The court in Geneva also ordered Ramadan to pay damages to the plaintiff, as well as legal and other fees totaling over 100,000 Swiss francs (approximately $118,000). The verdict revealed shocking details of Ramadan allegedly forcing the woman to engage in sexual acts and trapping her inside a Geneva hotel room in October 2008. It also included evidence of social media exchanges before and after the incident.

While Ramadan has the right to appeal the verdict, this development marks a significant setback for the former Oxford scholar, who had previously been acquitted by a lower court due to a lack of material evidence. The initial acquittal came as a moment of triumph for Ramadan, who had experienced a dramatic fall from grace following similar accusations in neighboring France back in 2018.

Furthermore, Ramadan faces the possibility of trial in France over allegations by several other women that surfaced more than five years ago. The Swiss scholar, who holds Swiss citizenship, had already faced preliminary charges for rape in France related to two incidents that allegedly occurred over a decade ago. However, he was released on bail in November 2018 after spending nine months in jail.

In March of last year, a third woman filed a rape complaint against Ramadan in France, adding to the mounting allegations against him. Despite these multiple accusations, Ramadan has consistently maintained his innocence and has filed lawsuits claiming that the allegations are false.

This latest ruling will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for Tariq Ramadan's reputation and future legal battles, as well as raising questions about the credibility of his academic and scholarly contributions. As the verdict brings closure to one case, the international community now eagerly awaits the outcome of the potential trial in France and its implications on the Islamic scholar's legacy.