Gisèle Pelicot, who endured nearly a decade of rape by dozens of men after being drugged by her ex-husband, has arrived at a court in France for the appeal trial of one of the convicted rapists.
Pelicot became a feminist icon after choosing to waive her anonymity during last year’s trial of her former husband and 50 other men. The 72-year-old arrived at the appeals court in Nîmes on Monday with her youngest son, Florian, and greeted supporters.
Her lawyer, Antoine Camus, said she would have preferred to avoid the strain of another trial but would attend regardless. “She will be there to explain that a rape is a rape—there is no such thing as a minor rape,” Camus told Agence France-Presse.
Husamettin Dogan, a 44-year-old builder sentenced to nine years for raping Pelicot, is appealing his conviction. Dogan entered the court using a crutch, his face hidden behind sunglasses and a Covid mask. He confirmed his name and date of birth and stated he is currently unemployed.
Nine jurors—five men and four women—were chosen to join three judges for the trial.
During his initial trial last year, the court heard that Dogan contacted her then-husband, Dominique Pelicot, in a chatroom and drove to their home the same night in June 2019, telling his own wife he was going out. He was found guilty of raping Gisèle Pelicot while she was unconscious.
Dogan claimed in the first trial that he thought it was just a game. “I’m not a rapist; that’s too heavy for me to bear,” he said. His lawyer declined to comment before the appeal.
Initially, 17 of the 51 convicted men appealed the verdict, but 16 withdrew, leaving Dogan as the sole appellant.
Dominique Pelicot, one of France’s most notorious sex offenders, received a 20-year sentence for drugging his then-wife and arranging for dozens of men to rape her at their home in southern France over nearly a decade of their marriage.
Last year’s trial in Avignon revealed that Dominique Pelicot crushed sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication into his wife’s mashed potatoes, coffee, or ice cream and invited men to rape her in Mazan, the village where they retired. Fifty other men were convicted.
Now serving his sentence in solitary confinement, Dominique Pelicot will testify at the appeal trial. He is expected to repeat his statement from the first trial: “I am a rapist, and all the accused men in this room are rapists.”
Gisèle Pelicot, a former logistics manager, insisted that the 2024 rape trial be public to raise awareness about drug-facilitated rape and abuse. “It’s not for us to feel ashamed; it’s for them,” she told the court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Gisle Pelicot returning to court designed to be clear concise and in a natural tone
General BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Who is Gisle Pelicot
Gisle Pelicot is a French woman who was the victim of a horrific highprofile gang rape in 2019
2 What is this court case about
This is a new hearing where Ms Pelicot is confronting one of the men convicted of raping her Its not a new trial to determine guilt as the men have already been found guilty and sentenced
3 Why is she going back to court if the men are already convicted
In many legal systems victims have the right to address the court and their attackers directly after a conviction This is often part of a sentencing or appeal hearing allowing the victim to describe the impact of the crime on their life
4 Who is the man she is confronting
She is confronting Yoni Amar one of the multiple men found guilty of raping her He is appealing his conviction which is what has brought them back into the same courtroom
5 What happened to the other attackers
Several other men were also convicted for their roles in the attack and received prison sentences
Advanced Detailed Questions
6 What is the legal purpose of a victim confronting their attacker in court
It serves several purposes it gives the victim a voice and a sense of agency provides the court with a powerful account of the crimes human impact and can be a crucial step in the victims healing process For the judge it reinforces the severity of the crime
7 Isnt this retraumatizing for her Why would she put herself through this
It can be incredibly difficult but many victims choose to do it because they feel its a necessary part of reclaiming their power They want to look their attacker in the eye and ensure the court understands the full extent of the harm caused which can be a pivotal moment in their personal recovery
8 What is an appeal and why does the attacker have that right
An appeal is a legal process where a convicted person asks a higher court to review the decision of a lower court They can argue there was a legal error new evidence or an unfair trial It is a standard
