Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan was found not guilty by a Swiss court today on charges of rape and sexual coercion as a Geneva court ruled there was no evidence against him.

Ramadan will also receive about 151,000 Swiss francs (approximately 154,400 euros) in compensation from the canton of Geneva.

The plaintiff’s side immediately stated that it would file an appeal. The Geneva prosecutor last week demanded that Ramadan be sentenced to three years in prison, half of which would be without parole.

As the verdict was read out in a hall full of journalists, the 60-year-old Swiss smiled as one of his daughters hugged him. The 57-year-old plaintiff, who was in the dock in support of the charges, left the courtroom before the end of the verdict.

Tariq Ramadan was first tried for rape, but in France he faces trial for similar offenses.

In the context of his long-awaited trial, two opposing versions of events were presented.

Ramadan, a charismatic and controversial figure in European Islam, denies any sexual activity and claims to be the victim of a “trap”.