In the heart of Provence, in the quiet town of Mazan, one of the most shocking events in French judicial history took place. Dominique Pelicot, a man who for almost a decade drugged and allowed dozens of men to abuse his wife Gisèle, has been sentenced to twenty years in prison by the Vaucluse court. A verdict that not only marks the end of a horror, but turns the spotlight on a cultural and legal system that requires urgent changes.
A decade-long nightmare
Between 2011 and 2020, the quiet facade of a small-town French wedding hid an unimaginable hell. Gisele Pelicota retired worker, only discovered years later the horror to which she was subjected: drugged by her husband, she was regularly raped by him and by men invited by him, contacted on the internet: 50 men accused of aggravated rape, a collection of over 20 thousand meticulously archived photos and videos and at least 72 abusers identified in materials collected by the police.
The scandal emerged almost by chance: Dominique Pelicot was noticed, in September 2020, by a security guard while secretly filming women’s skirts in a supermarket. But this discovery opened the doors to a real circle of hell. The investigations revealed a chilling criminal system, in which Pelicot acted as an “orchestrator” of serial rapes, not only against his own wife but also against the wife of a co-defendant.
Gisèle, who bravely waived anonymity during the trialhas become the face of the resistance against sexual violence and the symbol of the fight for consent. Her testimony profoundly shocked public opinion, transforming her into a feminist icon. Banners reading “Thank you Gisèle” appeared on Avignon’s medieval walls, as thousands of protesters supported her fight.
A watershed process
Lasting over three months, the trial did not limit itself to judging Dominique Pelicot and his co-defendants. The Pelicot case exposed not only the horror of an individual, but also the flaws in a system. Many of the co-defendants tried to justify themselves, claiming that they had been deceived by Dominique Pelicot or that they believed that his wife was consenting. This has raised a heated debate about legal definition of rape in France and on the need to include an explicit mention of consent.
The five judges, called to decide by secret ballot, sentenced Pelicot to twenty years in prison, the maximum sentence requested by the prosecution. But despite the overwhelming evidence, some sentences fell short of prosecutors’ expectations, sparking controversy and protests. Jean-Pierre M., defined as Pelicot’s “disciple”, was sentenced to twelve years in prison, five less than required.
Activists are clamoring for a paradigm shift: consent is never implicit, nor negotiable. “This trial must become a turning point,” declared a representative of the local feminist movement. “We can no longer tolerate silence or manipulation being used as alibis to justify abuse.”
Dominique Pelicot, in his last statement in court, asked for forgiveness from the family, praising the courage of his ex-wife. Words that ring hollow when faced with the extent of his crimes.
The Pelicot case left an indelible mark on French society. Prime Minister Michel Barnier announced a strengthening of support measures for victims of domestic violence, including the possibility of reporting directly to hospitals by 2025. “We will offer systematic support in a safe place,” Barnier said, acknowledging the importance of preventing and tackling these crimes with more incisive tools.
As France reflects on the horror, Gisèle Pelicot’s name becomes synonymous with courage and resistance. His example represents not only the denunciation of a complicit patriarchal system, but also a collective call to action.
