Gisèle Pelicot Returns to Court—Again—for Historic Appeal Hearing
At 72, Gisèle Pelicot is stepping back into the courtroom—not because she has to, but because she believes she must. On October 6, 2025, the Frenchwoman who became an international symbol of courage and resilience returned to the Court of Appeal in Nîmes to face one of the 51 men convicted of raping her while she was drugged into unconsciousness over nearly a decade .
Table of Contents
- Why Gisèle Chose to Return
- Who Is Appealing—and What He’s Arguing
- A Quick Recap of the Original Trial
- How Appeals Work in French Rape Cases
- Why This Appeal Matters Beyond One Man’s Sentence
- Sources
Why Gisèle Chose to Return
French law doesn’t require victims to attend appeal hearings. But Gisèle Pelicot has made it clear: silence is not an option. “She feels it’s her responsibility to be there,” said her lawyer Stéphane Babonneau. “She says, ‘I started something; I have to end it.’”
Just as she did during the original 2024 trial, Gisèle has waived her right to a closed-door proceeding, ensuring the public can witness the legal reckoning unfold. Her presence isn’t just personal—it’s political.
Who Is Appealing—and What He’s Arguing
The man challenging his conviction is Husamettin Dogan, 44, one of the strangers Dominique Pelicot met online and invited into their home. Dogan was convicted of aggravated rape and sentenced to prison in December 2024.
His appeal targets both the verdict and the severity of his sentence. While full legal arguments haven’t been made public, past appeals in similar cases have often hinged on claims like “I didn’t know she was drugged” or “I thought it was consensual.”
But under French law, consent cannot exist when someone is incapacitated—regardless of a perpetrator’s claimed ignorance.
A Quick Recap of the Original Trial
For nearly 10 years, Dominique Pelicot secretly mixed sleeping pills into his wife’s food and drink. While Gisèle lay unconscious, he invited dozens of men—many strangers—to rape her in their home in Pernes-les-Fontaines, southern France.
The abuse only came to light in 2021 when Gisèle, then 69, discovered suspicious messages on her husband’s phone. Her decision to go public—and waive anonymity—led to a historic trial in late 2024, where all 51 defendants, including Dominique, were convicted. Dominique received the maximum sentence: 20 years .
How Appeals Work in French Rape Cases
The appeal trial in Nîmes will be heard by three professional judges and a nine-member jury—a structure designed to balance legal rigor with public conscience. Unlike in some countries, French appeals can re-examine both facts and sentencing.
However, overturning a conviction in a case with overwhelming digital evidence—videos, chat logs, calendars—would be highly unusual.
Why This Appeal Matters Beyond One Man’s Sentence
This isn’t just about Husamettin Dogan. It’s about whether France will uphold the precedent set in 2024: that drugging erases consent, that spousal betrayal can enable systemic violence, and that survivors deserve to be believed.
Feminist groups across Europe are watching closely. “If this conviction is softened,” said activist Léa Moreau, “it tells predators they can hide behind ‘I didn’t know’—and that’s a step backward for justice.”
For Gisèle, the courtroom is no longer a place of shame—it’s a stage for truth.
