Swiss scholar Tariq Ramadan has admitted he had relations with one of the five women who have accused him of rape.
The woman involved is a 45-year-old French national and former escort who was also cited in the Lille Carlton case involving former French Socialist Party minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who has since been acquitted. She described the same modus operandi as the other complainants against Ramadan: seduction on social networks at a difficult time in her life, followed by meetings that quickly transformed into violent sexual assault.
"He knows her, he had a relationship with her, but not what she described," said Ramadan’s lawyer, Emmanuel Marsigny.
In addition to screen grabs of their online exchanges, the woman also gave investigators a dress that allegedly contains traces of Ramadan’s semen.
"An expert report was ordered yesterday," said Marsigny.
Health status
A medical report requested by the judges in charge of the case was delivered on Wednesday. It confirms that Ramadan suffers from multiple sclerosis but can still be detained, subject to adequate medical treatment.
"The current treatment of Mr. T. Ramadan is not incompatible with detention," the experts stated.
The professor of Islamic Studies, who has been in French custody since February 2, is now the target of five complaints - three in France, one in the United States and one in Switzerland - for similar acts involving violence. He has formally contested the charges.
SDA-ATS/ac
SWI swissinfo.ch on Instagram
SWI swissinfo.ch on Instagram
