Oxford professor, who advised the Government on Islamic extremism, denies raping French author after she accused him of attack on Facebook
Henda Ayari, 51, named the professor as her attacker in a lengthy Facebook post and is set to face defamation charges back in France
AN Oxford don has denied a Facebook claim that he raped a writer in a hotel room.
Henda Ayari, 41, alleged that Professor Tariq Ramadan forced himself on her after inviting her to his room in 2012.
Mr Ramadan, 55, an Islamic Studies academic who has advised the Government on extremism, is expected to begin legal action today for defamation against French writer Ms Ayari.
His lawyer Yassin Bouzrou yesterday said he “categorically rejects all these false allegations”. In her Facebook post Ms Ayari said she had described the alleged Paris attack in her autobiography — but did not name Mr Ramadan at the time to avoid legal problems.
But she added: “Now I can no longer keep it a secret. It’s too much for me to bear and it’s time to tell the truth.”
Prof Ramadan, who regularly appears on the BBC, plans to lodge a complaint for defamation with the public prosecutor in Rouen, France.
An Oxford University spokesman said: “We are aware of the reports. We are taking them extremely seriously. We are not in a position to comment further.”