Dominique Pelicot, the former husband of Gisele Pelicot, the survivor at the center of France’s mass rape case, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by an Avignon court on Thursday. Pelicot was convicted of repeatedly drugging and raping Gisele over nearly a decade and facilitating her abuse by inviting dozens of strangers to assault her unconscious body in their home.
The presiding judge, Roger Arata, declared that Pelicot will serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole. This case has drawn global outrage and highlighted Gisele as a beacon of resilience and courage.
All 50 co-defendants in the case, aged between 27 and 74, were also convicted, receiving sentences ranging from 3 to 20 years. Prosecutors had initially sought jail terms between 4 and 18 years for the majority of them, who were accused of raping Gisele while she was incapacitated. The defendants claimed they believed the encounters were consensual role-plays orchestrated by the couple, arguing it could not be rape if the husband approved.
During the three-month trial, Dominique Pelicot, 72, admitted to his crimes and apologized to his family. Gisele, now 72, waived her anonymity, insisting the court view harrowing footage of the abuse recorded by Pelicot. “I’ve decided not to be ashamed. I’ve done nothing wrong,” she testified. “They are the ones who must be ashamed.”
Her testimony and courage have turned her into a symbol of strength, inspiring other survivors to come forward and share their stories.
