A French man is on trial after he admitted to drugging his wife and recruiting more than 90 men to rape her for over a decade, a case that has shocked France and the world.
Gisèle Pélicot, 71, is bravely reliving her decade-long abuse perpetrated by her 71-year-old husband, Dominque Pélicot, as he faces a criminal trial in an Avignon court.
At the request of Gisèle, presiding Judge Roger Arata has made it a public trial, which is expected to continue until December and prosecute dozens of men involved.
“She (Gisèle) wants to raise awareness, as widely as possible, of what happened to her so that events like these never happen again,” Judge Arata said.
What’s the story?
In September 2020, police arrested Dominique Pélicot when they caught him filming up women’s skirts in a supermarket.
By chance, as authorities investigated him, they discovered a large collection of disturbing videos and photos documenting the abuse against his wife, Gisèle.
The evidence shows that from 2011 to 2020, Dominique would regularly drug Gisèle with sleeping pills until she was unconscious, before inviting strangers into their home to rape her.
The investigation found over the course of nearly a decade, there were at least 200 instances of rape committed by more than 90 men, who Dominique allegedly recruited online. No money was exchanged in the instances, police say.
Fifty of these men have been identified by police, and eighteen, including Dominique, are in custody.
‘We didn’t know what was happening to us.’
In 2022, Gisèle and Dominique’s daughter, who goes by the pen name Caroline Darian, wrote a book called Et j’ai cessé de t’appeler papa – which translates in English to “And I stopped calling you dad”.
On Friday, Darian testified in court, saying her life was “literally turned upside down” when she learned of the abuse.
“My mother said (at the time): ‘I spent most of the day at the police station. Your father drugged me to rape me with strangers. I was made to look at the photos’,” Darian said in court.
“It was what you call a tipping point, the start of a slow descent into hell where you have no idea how low you will sink… I called my brothers … We didn’t know what was happening to us.”
The 45-year-old was emotional in court as she gave her evidence.
“How are we supposed to rebuild ourselves when we know (what he did)?” Darian said.
Global outrage
The case has shocked and disturbed the world, with many sharing their horror online.
“This case sickens me,” British journalist Zoë Grünewald wrote on social media. “We should be taking to the streets. Women are never safe.”
Not all men, but her husband, a local councillor, a nurse, a journalist, a former police officer, a prison guard, a soldier, a firefighter and a civil servant, to name a few.
— Zoë Grünewald (@zoe_grunewald) September 7, 2024
This case sickens me. We should be taking to the streets. Women are never safe. https://t.co/4oqZtsWVMM
“‘Not all men’ – but so many men helped Gisèle Pélicot’s husband,” UK-based lawyer Dr Ann Olivarius wrote.
“Forcing myself to keep reading about this case because it’s important to understand what the worst men are capable of doing to women and children,” British columnist and radio presenter Sonia Sodha said.
The European Institute for Gender Equality estimates that 44 per cent of women in France have experienced violence, 11 per cent higher than the rate of violence against women in the EU overall. The full extent of violence against women is difficult to estimate, the EIGE says, as under-reporting sexual violence is a big problem in France.
Data from EIGE also show 30 per cent of women in France who experienced physical and/or sexual violence experienced it in their own home.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au.
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