Gisele Pelicot rape case: Victim accuses dozens of men alleged to have raped her of 'cowardice'

The French woman, whose husband is being tried for allegedly orchestrating the rape of her by 50 men over a decade, has called them "cowards" and stated that they ought to have alerted the police about his actions.

Gisele Pelicot, 71, has decided to forgo her anonymity and testified for the third time in Avignon on Tuesday.

Her husband, Dominique Pelicot, 72, has confessed to drugging and assaulting her, as well as permitting around 50 other individuals to take advantage of her while she was incapacitated.

Many of the other men reject the allegations of rape, asserting that they believed she was just pretending to be asleep as part of a role-playing scenario, or that they were coerced into having sex with her by Mr. Pelicot.

On Tuesday, Ms. Pelicot addressed the courtroom, stating, "In my view, this trial represents a profound act of cowardice; there’s simply no other way to put it."

She added, "Society needs to reevaluate its macho, male-dominated perspective and transform its views on rape."

"Rape is rape. If you enter a room and find someone who is unresponsive, what makes you choose not to take action? Why didn’t you leave right away to inform the authorities?"

Ms. Pelicot has emphasized the importance of having her husband's case heard in a public setting. This situation has garnered international attention, especially from advocates for women's rights and those fighting against domestic violence.

She only became aware of the abuse she endured when the police discovered photos and videos her husband had taken of it.

On Monday, her two sons, David, who is 50, and Florian, aged 38, gave their testimonies against their dad.

The oldest son referred to him as the "devil" and admitted that hearing about his mother's experiences made him feel nauseous.

His younger brother shared how he "lost his father" and how his children "lost their grandfather" when the abuse was uncovered four years ago.

Hong Kong activist receives condemnation from China for imprisonment Norway's crown princess' son faces rape allegations Two British citizens lose their lives in a car accident in Spain

David Pelicot also alleged that his father captured explicit images of his mother while she was expecting. He expressed his belief in his sister's assertions that their father had drugged her and taken photographs of her in her underwear.

On Tuesday, when it was Dominique Pelicot's turn to address the court, he refuted the allegations of mistreating his daughter or grandchildren.

However, his daughter, Caroline Darian, cut in and exclaimed, “You lack the bravery to speak the truth! You'll perish clinging to a falsehood. You are isolated in your deception.”

Dominique Pelicot had previously admitted to all the accusations, stating in court, "I am a rapist, just like everyone else here."

He is scheduled to testify once more this week, and his attorney informed the media that he feels "quite down."

The trial is still underway, and the decisions and penalties are anticipated to be announced around December 20th.