In Mazan, a small village in Provence, France, a silent march took place on Saturday in solidarity with Gisèle Pelicot, a 72-year-old woman at the center of a horrific case of sexual violence. Pelicot’s husband, Dominique, is accused of drugging her and inviting over 80 men to ir home to rape her while she was unconscious. The case has sent shockwaves across France and the world.
Hundreds of supporters, both women and men, joined the march, expressing their outrage and support for Pelicot and or victims of sexual abuse. Though the Pelicot family did not attend, they expressed their gratitude for the public display of solidarity. One marcher said, “I am here as a woman, mom, and grandmother… I am here firstly to support Gisèle, who is very brave, and or women and girls. I hope this case will encourage people to listen to women and not turn a blind eye to sexual abuse.”
Trial and Evidence
ongoing trial in Avignon has drawn widespread attention, particularly after the court agreed to show videos of alleged rapes. Se recordings, made by Dominique Pelicot, are central to the case. Though the court initially debated where to screen footage publicly, Pelicot’s lawyers insisted that videos be shown to expose the extent of abuse.
Gisèle Pelicot has no memory of assaults, as she was drugged into a comatose state by her husband, who administered sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication through her food and drinks. Videos, her lawyers argue, are irrefutable evidence of rapes, countering the defense of many of the accused men, who claim y believed Pelicot was conscious and consenting.
Antoine Camus, one of Pelicot’s lawyers, challenged this defense, stating, “Perception is subjective, but her videos explode ory that rape was accidental, due to inattention or carelessness. What y show is a rape of opportunity.”
Anor’s lawyer representing Pelicot, Stéphane Babonneau, emphasized the trauma his client will carry for the rest of her life, stating, “For Gisèle, it is too late … damage has been done. She will live with the 200 rapes she suffered while unconscious for the rest of her life. But if exposing this in public helps prevent women from enduring the same, her suffering will have meaning.”
Accused and Wider Implications
Dominique Pelicot, a retired electrician, has already pleaded guilty to aggravated rape over a period spanning 10 years. He lured men from an online chatroom named “Without ir Knowledge,” where he arranged for me to come to the couple’s home in Mazan after drugging his wife. He was only caught when a supermarket security guard noticed him filming up the skirt of a female customer and called the police in 2020.
The trial involves over 50 men, many of whom deny charges, stating they believed Pelicot’s unconscious state was consensual role-play. However, police found nearly 20,000 videos and photographs of assaults on a USB drive at Pelicot home, suggesting re could be more men involved 30 remain unidentified.
As the trial proceeds, it has raised serious questions about sexual violence in France, especially in light of the country’s response to the #MeToo movement. Many feminists argue that France has failed to confront the widespread problem of sexual abuse, with the Pelicot case becoming a painful symbol of this failure.
The court case is expected to continue until the end of December. If convicted, accused men face up to 20 years in prison.
