Gisèle Pelicot takes stand in French mass rape trial

Gisèle Pelicot, a French woman whose ex-husband is being tried for drugging and assaulting her during their marriage, as well as for encouraging numerous other men to assault her, testified in court on Wednesday.

She expressed to the court in Avignon her desire for women who have experienced rape to understand that "the shame belongs to them, not us."

"I want every woman who has experienced rape to feel empowered to speak out and say, 'If Madame Pelicot can do it, so can I.' I don’t want them to feel ashamed anymore," she stated, advocating for a public trial and the release of footage related to the alleged assaults.

Ms. Pelicot, 71, took the stand after her lawyers asked for her to have the opportunity to react to the evidence and testimonies presented during the trial up to this point.

She mentioned that in recent weeks, she has seen several wives, mothers, and sisters of the defendants testify, declaring that the accused individuals were "remarkable men."

"That's similar to someone I knew back home," she continued. "However, a rapist isn't only the stranger you encounter in a dimly lit parking lot at night. They can also be someone within your family or among your friends."

Ms. Pelicot expressed that she feels utterly devastated and will need to work on rebuilding herself. She remarked, "I'm not sure if I'll ever fully comprehend everything that has happened."

Referring to her ex-husband as Mr. Pelicot, she expressed, "I wish I could still refer to him as Dominique. We spent 50 years together, and I was a joyful, content woman."

"You were a loving and considerate partner, and I always believed in you. We experienced both joy and sorrow together," she continued, her voice trembling.

In 2021, she initiated divorce proceedings against Dominique.

Certain readers might find aspects of this story unsettling.

Dominique has confessed to finding men on the internet to assault his wife while she was heavily sedated and asleep due to the medications he secretly gave her from 2010 to 2020.

Ms. Pelicot mentioned that she used to feel fortunate to have him with her during her health struggles, which were later discovered to be connected to the medications he was providing.

"I'm struggling to comprehend how someone I viewed as flawless could have acted this way. How could he have deceived me like this? And how could you allow these unfamiliar people into my personal space?" she expressed.

I want to tell him: I've always aimed to help you rise up and find the brightness. But you decided to dive into the darkest parts of what it means to be human. That choice was yours alone.

Ms. Pelicot mentioned that Dominique frequently prepared meals for her and would bring her ice cream after dinner. This was later how he claimed he drugged her. She recalled telling him, "I consider myself so fortunate; you're so sweet to me, always taking good care of me."

She mentioned that she never experienced dizziness or a racing heartbeat, and she must have lost consciousness quickly after being drugged. The next morning, she would find herself in her own bed, feeling unusually tired, but she thought it was just due to the long strolls she’d taken.

"I experienced some gynaecological problems, and there were mornings when I woke up feeling as though my waters had gone. I noticed the hints, but I didn't know how to interpret them," she mentioned.

Ms. Pelicot and her attorneys talked about the possibility that Dominique could have been dealing with feelings of inadequacy. This might have stemmed from her relationship with a colleague, the sense of social disparity between them, or the contrast between her nurturing upbringing and his lacking one.

Reflecting on the response the trial has generated, she remarked, "People have called me brave. But this isn’t about bravery; it’s about having the resolve and passion to make a difference in our society."

"Being brave is about diving into the ocean to save someone. I only have the desire and resolve," she expressed.

"This is why I return here daily. Even when I encounter terrible stories, I remain steadfast because of the countless men and women supporting me."

She expressed that she has never felt remorse for requesting the trial to be public, stating, "I made that choice because I want to ensure that what I went through never happens again."

The majority of the reported sexual assaults were recorded on video.

Most of the accused claim they did not assault Ms. Pelicot, stating that they cannot be guilty since they were unaware that she was unconscious and thus did not "understand" that they were committing rape.

Even though Ms. Pelicot has attended court almost every day, she has only testified twice.

During her most recent comments on September 18, she expressed feeling "humiliated" by claims that she had consented to participate in a sexual role-play scenario where she would act as if she were asleep while men, whom her husband found online, visited their home.

"These men intended to assault me. What I'm hearing in this courtroom is incredibly disrespectful and deeply shaming," she stated.

The trial has garnered significant attention in France, where Ms. Pelicot has emerged as a symbol of feminism, particularly for her decision to forgo anonymity and demand a public trial. Her lawyers argued that making the trial open would focus the "shame" onto the person being accused.

On Saturday, rallies supporting Ms. Pelicot took place in over a dozen cities across France. Many feminist organizations are urging the French government to broaden the rape law to incorporate a clause addressing consent.

The trial began on September 2. Even though the hearings take place every day for long hours, the proceedings are only about halfway completed because there are so many defendants to be examined.

A decision is anticipated by the end of December.

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