A French court on Thursday ordered a medical evaluation to determine if Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan can stay in prison after he was handed preliminary rape charges in cases alleged by women who sought his counsel.
Ramadan was placed under investigation on February 2 for an alleged rape resulting from a 2009 encounter and for the alleged rape of a vulnerable person in a 2012 case. Both women filed the complaints last year.
Ramadan, in custody since January 31, denies any wrongdoing.
Ramadan had sought to buy some time before the judge ordered him kept in detention, saying after being charged that he wanted to postpone the required “debate” before any decision on remaining in jail. The tactic apparently didn’t work.