Geneva: Despite his accuser's immediate declaration that she would appeal, a Swiss court on Wednesday found Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan not guilty of rape and sexual coercion in a Geneva hotel 15 years ago.

The former Oxford University professor was also given up to 151,000 Swiss francs ($167,000) in legal costs compensation by the court, which rejected his claim for moral damages.

Yves Maurer-Cecchini, the president of the Geneva Criminal Court, stated that "the accused must have the benefit of the doubt," citing a dearth of proof, conflicting witness testimony, and "love messages" sent by the plaintiff following the alleged assault.

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"Tariq Ramadan needs to be freed,"The 60-year-old Swiss academic, a charismatic but divisive figure in European Islam, grinned and gave one of his daughters a hug after the verdict.

The 57-year-old accuser of Ramadan, who chose to go by the fictitious name "Brigitte" out of fear for her safety, left the courtroom before the verdict was fully read.

The decision would be appealed, according to her attorneys. According to attorney Francois Zimeray, "This deeply unfair decision is the reflection of a caricature hearing from which dignity was absent and where the word of my client was neither heard nor respected."

Ramadan walked out of court surrounded by his family while grinning but remaining silent.

"It is a verdict inspired by reason," proclaimed Yael Hayat, his Swiss attorney.
According to Philippe Ohayon, the defendant's French attorney, "too many implausibilities and contradictions led to a perfectly logical acquittal in fact and in law."

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For Ramadan, the prosecution had asked for a three-year sentence, of which two years would have been spent in prison.
Both parties concurred that Brigitte, an Islam convert, and Ramadan stayed the night together in the hotel room.

Ramadan was charged with three counts of rape during the night and sexual coercion.
According to Brigitte's attorney, she was repeatedly sexually assaulted and subjected to "torture and barbarism."

Brigitte invited herself to his room, according to Ramadan. He allowed her to kiss him before abruptly calling it quits. He claimed that he was caught in a "trap."
Brigitte was in her forties when the alleged assault allegedly took place. Ten years later, she complained to the court, saying she had been inspired to come forward.

The Geneva court concluded Brigitte's account was "generally constant and detailed" in its decision.

However, it was not supported "by any material element, such as traces of semen or blood, security camera footage from the hotel or findings of traumatic injuries or gynaecological violence."

In spite of the fact that "this stress does not make it possible to confirm the materiality of the alleged facts," the court president stated that there is no doubt that the complainant felt as though she had a negative experience that evening.

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Ramadan, who is unpopular among secularists who view him as a proponent of political Islam, earned a doctorate from the University of Geneva with a thesis that was centred on his grandfather, who founded the Muslim Brotherhood movement in Egypt.