Gisele Pelicot, the 72-year-old French woman who became a symbol of resilience after a mass rape case that shocked the world, appeared in court on Wednesday to confront the only man who continues to deny raping her.
Her former husband, Dominique Pelicot, also 72, was sentenced last year to the maximum term of 20 years in prison for drugging his wife with sedatives and inviting dozens of strangers to rape and abuse her over nearly a decade. Forty-nine other men were also convicted, none of whom appealed their sentences.
However, Husamettin Dogan, 44, maintains his innocence, insisting he was “trapped” by Dominique Pelicot a claim investigators and prosecutors strongly dispute. His continued denial has brought Gisele back to court in Nimes, southern France, despite her wish to move forward with her life.
“She would have much preferred to stay where she is and focus on her new life and her future,” her lawyer Antoine Camus told AFP. “But she needs to see this through to the end.”
Investigators found 107 photos and 14 videos from the night Dogan visited the couple’s home in 2019 on Dominique Pelicot’s hard drive. The footage reportedly shows Dogan raping an unconscious Gisele and attempting to force her to perform oral sex. This evidence was set to be played in court before Gisele took the stand.
Dogan, who had initially been sentenced to nine years in prison, claims he never intended to rape her. But Dominique Pelicot testified on Tuesday that Dogan was fully aware of the situation and willingly participated, saying, “I never forced anyone… He knew my wife would be asleep.”
Police investigator Jeremie Bosse-Platiere dismantled Dogan’s defense, emphasizing that the videos clearly show he was aware the victim was unconscious. “Anyone who sees the videos understands this immediately,” he said. He also revealed that Dogan’s claim of staying for just 30 minutes was false; evidence from the footage showed he remained in the house for over three hours.
Dogan faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. The verdict is expected on Thursday.
What you should know
Gisele Pelicot became a global feminist icon after courageously speaking out against her abusers, publicly rejecting shame and demanding justice.
Her case exposed one of France’s most disturbing sexual abuse scandals, highlighting the power of survivor testimony and the need for stronger protections against sexual violence.
