Day of the Mazan verdict: “Shame has changed sides, thank you Gisèle”

“Thank you Gisèle”: the banner which flew Thursday morning in front of the Avignon courthouse, before the verdict of the historic Mazan rape trial, summarizes the message of gratitude from women and men towards the one who wanted “that the shame changes sides.”

Since the start of this trial, almost four months ago, of the 51 men tried, most of them for aggravated rape of Gisèle Pelicot, the walls of this city in the south-east of France have been covered with collages against sexual violence. and for women’s rights.

The latest messages from the Amazones d’Avignon collective have been displayed since Wednesday evening: “Justice for all”, “Shame has changed sides, and justice?”, and the biggest, “Thank you”.

“Rape affects women all over the world, that’s why the whole world has its eyes on what’s going to happen,” says Ghislaine Sainte Catherine, one of the members of this feminist collective.

Between these mobilizations against sexual violence, the rush of the media, the queue since dawn to hope to have one of the rare places reserved for the public and a large police force, the verdict is awaited with excitement.

Extraordinary in terms of the number of accused and the facts alleged – a husband, Dominique Pelicot, who drugged his wife, Gisèle, for a decade, to rape her and have her raped in the marital home by dozens of strangers recruited on the internet – This trial made the ravages of violence against women widely resonate.

For having renounced the closed session, to which rape victims are entitled, and publicly facing the men accused of having raped her, Gisèle Pelicot, 72, has become a feminist icon. “Thank you to her, because for many women who are victims of rape, the shame has now changed sides,” rejoices Pascale Plégal, computer engineer.

On this day of the verdict, the media from around the world rushed to Avignon. There are nearly 180 accredited people, including 86 foreigners, some with several journalists. Many police officers will also be present in and around the courtroom, as 32 co-defendants appear free, but could be taken directly to prison if convicted.

In front of the court, Thursday at dawn, Bernadette, 69, had been waiting since 5:20 a.m., like every morning since the hearings began on September 2. For her, more than the verdict against these men aged 27 to 74 and from all social backgrounds tried in this case, it is “everything that happened before in the trial which will remain the most important”: “Try to understand how this gentleman got there, why men, when they arrived in Ms. Pelicot’s room, still continued their act while she was inert, instead of leaving straight away.

She hopes that this trial will make it possible to discuss more openly and widely in families the question of consent, of respect for everyone in sexuality.

Victim or witness to sexual assault?