Overview

• The Nîmes Court of Appeal begins hearing Husamettin Dogan’s challenge to his conviction and nine-year sentence, with a jury expected to view abuse videos and proceedings scheduled through Thursday while he remains free pending appeal.
• Dogan, 44, argues he was deceived into believing Gisèle Pelicot had consented, though at the first trial he acknowledged the acts met the legal definition of rape before rejecting the label of “rapist.”
• Gisèle Pelicot, 72, chose to attend despite wishing to avoid another ordeal after insisting in 2024 on a public trial that included footage documenting the assaults.
• Dominique Pelicot, serving 20 years for drugging his wife and recruiting attackers, will testify from prison and previously declared in court that he and the other men were rapists.
• Sixteen of the 17 initial appeals were withdrawn, and the case continues to influence national debate, including parliamentary consideration of adding an explicit consent-based definition of rape to French law.