French Court Confronts Decade-Long Ordeal in Mazan Rape Trial

Dominique Pelicot and 50 others face justice for orchestrating and participating in the mass rape of Gisèle Pelicot, exposing systemic failures and cultural issues surrounding sexual violence.

Dominique Pelicot admitted to drugging his wife, Gisèle Pelicot, and enabling over 200 rapes by 50 men over a decade, framing it as a way to 'subjugate an unsubmissive woman.'
Gisèle Pelicot waived her anonymity and requested a public trial to bring awareness to the normalization of sexual violence and the cultural issues surrounding consent.
The trial has included harrowing testimony, with Gisèle condemning the accused as 'cowards' and detailing the lifelong impact of the crimes on her and her family.
Many defendants claimed ignorance or manipulation, with some alleging they were also drugged, but prosecutors argued their actions reflected willful complicity and moral failure.
The verdict, expected on December 20, is seen as a pivotal moment in addressing the broader issue of systemic sexual violence and societal attitudes toward victims.