Third woman accuses Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan of rape

A third woman has accused Tariq Ramadan of rape, after two more women also made similar claims against the Islamic scholar.

The French Muslim woman, who wants to remain anonymous and uses the pseudonym "Marie", claims to have suffered multiple rapes in France, Brussels and London between 2013 and 2014. 

She has accused Ramadan, 55, of subjecting her to violent and sexually degrading acts in a dozen meetings, often in hotels on the sidelines of conferences.

"I had to obey him, be available 24 hours a day, do whatever he told me, take pictures in submissive positions, on my knees to ask for forgiveness, call him 'master'," she told Europe 1 radio.

"At first, there were feelings, otherwise I would not have agreed to see him. I had difficulty saying the word: rape. Today I can say it."

The accusation comes a month after he was indicted over claims he assaulted two women. He is currently in custody.

A judicial source said: "'Marie' tried in vain to escape the influence of Mr Ramadan who did not stop threatening her," during a period between February 2013 and June 2014. 

Ramadan is an Oxford University professor and one of the world's leading Islamic scholars.

His grandfather, Hassan Banna, founded Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood movement.

Ramadan was detained on 2 February over charges he raped two Muslim women in France, which he denies. 

Both the other plaintiffs alleged that he had raped them in French hotel rooms.

Henda Ayari, 41, said she decided to accuse him publicly after the "Me Too" campaign against sexual abuse and harassment encouraged her to speak out.

Ramadan has said the accusations are part of a smear campaign by his enemies and his lawyers argue there are inconsistencies in the women's accounts.

His supporters - including two million Facebook followers - have lashed out angrily at his arrest, with many complaining that he has been unfairly targeted because he is Muslim.