Photo via The Nation
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One month ago, French citizen Gisele Pelicot took the stand against her husband, Dominique Pelicot, in an outstanding trial accusing him and at least 50 other men of rape. Between 2011 and 2020, Dominique Pelicot, age 71, drugged his wife, Gisele, age 72, and raped her while she was unconscious.
In addition to himself, Pelicot often invited strangers he connected with in online swingers forums and dating websites to his home, where he would record these men as they raped his unconscious wife. Reports show that Gisele was assaulted up to 92 times by at least 72 people, 51 of which have been charged. Of those 51 men, 49 have been accused of rape, one of attempted rape, and one of sexual assault. Of the men indicted, 15 admit rape, but all the others admit only to taking part in sexual acts. Many of them claim they were unaware Gisele had been drugged and was unconscious.
Pelicot himself faces multiple charges, including rape, gang rape, and privacy breaches by recording and disseminating sexual images; he and the other 51 men who have been accused each face up to 20 years in prison.
Dominique has pleaded guilty and admitted to his crimes. He has since publicly denounced himself in court and declared himself a rapist. During his testimony, Pelicot claimed, contrary to the testimonies of the other 51 men accused, that the others on trial were fully aware Gisele had been drugged before their meetings. “I am a rapist, like everyone else in this room. They cannot say otherwise,” he stated on the stand.
In a recent shocking decision, the French court has allowed Pelicot’s recordings to be seen as evidence during the trial. The judge argued that the videos shown “would not be systematic” and would only be shown when it was “strictly necessary for exposing the truth” at the request of one of the parties.
The ruling was undoubtedly controversial in this trial. Dominique Pelicot’s lawyers and the other 51 men accused have all expressed their disagreement, with one claiming, “What is the point of these revolting screenings?” The French press has also hesitated to view the ruling as positive, warning of a “serious attack on the freedom of information.”
However, Gisele’s lawyers have shown that they all favor this recent decision, with one lawyer, Stephane Babonnaeu, claiming it a “victory in a fight that should not have been fought.”
Outside the courtroom, France is in shock, with mass protests chanting “We are all Gisele!” erupting throughout Paris in the weeks since the case has been made public. In France, those involved in legal proceedings are entitled to privacy protected by law, including anonymity of all parties involved and a lack of press coverage. However, Gisele has since waived her right to anonymity, allowing the public to know every sordid detail.
Gisele has since become France’s newfound feminist icon. She said she was testifying “for all women” who had been assaulted while drugged and to ensure “no woman suffers this” in the future. Thousands of women throughout France praise her for the grace she has shown in approaching this horrifying trial.
While the trial is still ongoing, the women of France have already rallied behind Gisele in the hope that her case will bring about change, from laws about consent, rape, and sexual assault to the perpetual “rape culture” that exists within our society.
But this begs the question: will the judges carry out their promise?
This is indeed a highly volatile moment for the French legal system. Even with all the evidence presented and Dominique Pelicot’s guilty plea, we still are unaware of what the outcome of this case could be. This leaves incredible potential for the judges to disappoint us.
Of course, this wouldn’t be the first time we’ve been down this road, where cases in which the apparent outcome has been completely turned around by one entirely circumstantial piece of evidence. Such a phenomenon is prevalent in cases of rape and sexual assault. It’s disheartening to hear, but there is so much riding on in this case that only uplifting Gisele—as opposed to also ruling in her favor—will not give us the outcome we want.
As the trial continues, one can only hope that Gisele’s sacrifice is honored, and that she eventually seeks the justice she is rightfully entitled to. In the meantime, the murals will continue to be painted, and the women will continue to march, regardless of the outcome.
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This article was edited by Bowen Yao.
