Editor’s Note: This story contains some distressing details.
People around the world, especially women have come out in support of Frenchwoman, Gisèle Pelicot, with many calling her brave and strong despite everything she went through.
Pelicot was drugged to sleep by her husband Dominique, who recruited dozens of men through a now-defunct website called, Coco, to rape her for over 10 years.
He also filmed the mass rape.
The 72-year-old mother and grandmother, who is now hailed as a symbol of resilience and courage, filed for divorce after learning of the rapes from investigators.
The case has brought into the spotlight the global scourge of Gender-Based Violence, also sparking questions of what causes a man to go to such lengths to hurt not just a woman he purports to love but a mother of his children.
It has also triggered protests in France, with women coming out to support Gisèle, lauding her for deciding to go public about the atrocities she went through in her marriage.
Testifying on the third day of the trial, Pelicot said she was using this case to take back control of her life.
“Many women don’t have the proof. I have the proof. For 50 years, I lived with a man who I would never have imagined for a single second could do these things. I had complete confidence in this man,” said Pelicot.
It is reported that the husband crushed antidepressants into her food and drink, which has now affected her memory.
“It is not for myself that I am testifying, but for all the women who suffer chemical submission,” she said.
Pelicot’s now ex-husband has pleaded guilty to all charges against him and asked for forgiveness.
He says he hopes to win back his former partner.
The couple had three children in their 50 years together.
Dominique, the 71-year-old man accused of the brutal crime has since pleaded guilty to all charges against him.
Authorities also revealed that he worked with another man, Jean-Pierre Marechal. The duo allegedly drugged and raped Marechal’s wife Cilia after meeting on a website.
Pelicot was first arrested after he was caught filming up women’s skirts at a supermarket in Carpentras in September 2020, which led to his devices being searched.
Authorities then discovered hundreds of pornographic videos and photos of women.
Evidence of the atrocities committed to his wife were found on a hard drive, which had over 3 000 photos and videos of Pelicot being raped.
The case is expected to last until December 21.
#giselepelicot is rewriting the script on sexual shame. Rather than allow her dozens of rapists to be tried in private, she has forced them into the public spotlight so that other women might be safer in future. The shame is theirs, not hers. Gisele Pelicot is a hero. pic.twitter.com/wGqHIaY3Zu
— Jo Morgan (@EnGender_Change) September 17, 2024
The bravery of Gisele Pelicot continues to astonish me.
Today, her husband Dominique Pelicot finally admitted in court that he was a rapist.
She was applauded as she left court. pic.twitter.com/Mbf8FmAR4r
— Helen Lewis (@helenlewis) September 17, 2024
Hearing about this is truly heartbreaking. Then hearing that Gisèle’s daughter, daughter in law and granddaughter are apparently victims as well. Dominique Pelicot deserves hell including these “men” https://t.co/LBbX3gfsSf pic.twitter.com/c89mxkXx4s
— Franky Vic (@FrankyVic157435) September 13, 2024
Gisèle Pélicot waived her right to anonymity to seek justice for all women. She made sure that her rapists could not hide away. She is helping shift shame around rape culture and placing it on the people who deserve it.
Her bravery continues to be unfathomable. pic.twitter.com/ahOoJX08er
— Chloe Laws (@Chloegracelaws) September 18, 2024
Dear France,
Please give this woman all the bravery awards available- and even then they won’t be enough to fully recognise her immense courage and spirit! #GisèlePélicot #giselepelicot pic.twitter.com/hNOhRAqLUJ
— Aisha Ali-Khan (@aak1880) September 17, 2024
R*pe survivor Gisèle Pélicot is the bravest and most inspiring fighter ever. Truly admirable woman. #giselepelicot #rapecase #Mazan pic.twitter.com/GkeaoP9FX2
— CoraMel (@cora_melodie_) September 16, 2024
Her strength and dignity is beyond measure #GisèlePelicot #Mazan https://t.co/yd1g6w8fju
— Triceramoth 💚🤍💜 (@triceramoth) September 18, 2024
So after doing all that he did to her, he has the nerve to ask for forgiveness?
Fifty men he enabled to do heinous acts against her. He knew what he did was wrong. He is only sorry he was caught. To quote Gisele Pelicot herself, “Forgiveness does not exist”, couldn’t agree more. https://t.co/9L3r0cokJQ— Leila (@Leila97726926) September 18, 2024
Written by: Nonhlanhla Harris
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