INTERVIEW
Bernadette Sauvaget, a journalist for "Libération", publishes her investigation on Wednesday The Ramadan affair: sex and lies, the fall of an icon , a week after the Muslim theologian incarcerated for ten months between 2017 and 2018, which contests all the rapes of which he is accused in Duty of Truth . "Tariq Ramadan has had the ability to paralyze women who could have spoken and still paralyzes women who could speak," says religion specialist at the microphone of Europe 1 Tuesday.
In her book, the journalist reveals the exclusive testimony of the first alleged victim of the theologian: Brigitte, whose name was changed, who was sequestrated and raped in October 2008. Bernadette Sauvaget explains why she only complained that in April 2018. "Tariq Ramadan's lawyers started proceedings for the silence, she could not speak publicly about the case," she said.
He has fascinated women that he has seduced as much as his audiences
The other three alleged victims also took months or years to complain. The circles close to Tariq Ramadan informed of his double life, they either, never spoke. "He has fascinated the women he has seduced as much as his audiences: I met one of his former lieutenants who was warned but did not believe," says Bernadette Sauvaget, who met for the first time theologian in 1999.
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In her book, the journalist describes the theologian as "star of Islam". "He has been a central figure in French-speaking Islam for a quarter of a century, starting in the 1990s," she explains. "It was aimed at younger generations of Muslims who were born and raised in France and his strength was to renew his audiences."
Tariq Ramadan is indicted since February 2018 for two rapes in France, including one vulnerable person: in October 2009 in Lyon on a woman nicknamed Christelle in the media and spring 2012 on Henda Ayari. For the third complaint, he is currently placed under the intermediate status of assisted witness. In the autumn, he will be heard in Paris by a Swiss prosecutor for a possible indictment for a fifth rape in Switzerland.