• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Gisele Pelicot, who became a symbol of resilience and feminist courage after exposing a decade-long pattern of sexual abuse, returned to court on Wednesday to confront one of her attackers. The case, which initially led to the conviction of 51 men, including her former husband Dominique Pelicot, shocked France and the world. 

During the original trial, which concluded in December last year, the court heard harrowing testimony that Dominique Pelicot, 72, had drugged his wife with sedatives and invited dozens of men to sexually abuse her over nearly a decade in their home in Mazan, Provence. Pelicot filmed many of the assaults, and at least 50 men were implicated. Last year, he received the maximum 20-year prison sentence, while 49 other men convicted in the case did not appeal.

Dogan Appeals His Conviction

One man, 44-year-old Husamettin Dogan, remains defiant, claiming he believed the sexual acts were consensual. Dogan was sentenced to nine years in prison, lower than the 12 years sought by prosecutors, and is the only defendant appealing his conviction.

ALSO READ: Pakistan To Get Higly Advanced US Air-to-Air Missiles After Sharif-Trump Meet | Know KEY Features

On Tuesday, prosecutors presented evidence to counter Dogan’s claims, bringing Dominique Pelicot to the Nîmes appeals court as a witness. Pelicot, who is serving his sentence in solitary confinement, described the recruitment of Dogan through online chatrooms, insisting that Dogan was fully aware he was being invited to rape an unconscious woman.

Pelicot Testifies Against Dogan

“I’m looking for someone to abuse my wife after I’ve put her to sleep without her knowledge,” Pelicot testified. He said he clearly informed Dogan of the situation, including the presence of a camera in the room, and that Dogan participated willingly and even requested assistance in the assaults.

Pelicot refuted Dogan’s assertion that the invitation was framed as a “game,” stating, “No, I never said that. They all knew, they all came with the same intention.” He described how Dogan took pleasure in the acts, further underscoring the premeditated and deliberate nature of the crimes. 

Pelicot also testified, telling Dogan she never gave consent, reinforcing the prosecution’s case. Her courage in confronting her abuser publicly has drawn international attention and marked her as a feminist hero.

ALSO READ: Nobel Prize Winner Found: Scientist On Holiday Trip With Wife And Phone In Airplane Mode Finally Traced

The appeals court will continue to hear arguments, with prosecutors seeking to uphold the convictions and maintain justice for Pelicot and her ordeal spanning nearly a decade.