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Briefing|Friday Briefing: 51 Men Convicted in French Rape Trial
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/briefing/french-rape-trial-syria-mayotte.html
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In France, 51 convictions and a hint of hope
Dominique Pelicot, who admitted to drugging and raping his wife, Gisèle, for almost a decade and inviting dozens of strangers to join him, was convicted yesterday in France and sentenced to the maximum 20 years in prison. The court also convicted the 50 other defendants, most of them on rape charges.
After it was over, Gisèle Pelicot stepped outside the courthouse in Avignon, where hundreds of her supporters cheered and held up signs of appreciation. She said she never regretted allowing the trial to be public. “I am now confident in our ability to seize a future in which women and men can live in harmony, respect and mutual understanding,” she said.
The case stunned France. It transformed how the nation discusses sexual violence and made Gisèle, who has since divorced her husband, a feminist hero. Gisèle’s image has become a symbol of female strength around the world, our chief fashion critic writes.
Details: Most of the 51 men who were convicted received sentences of eight to 10 years, less time than what the public prosecutor had recommended.
Catch up: Here is a timeline of events in the case, starting with the Pelicots’ marriage in 1973 and leading up to the arrests in 2020 and 2021.
