Woman recounts harrowing testimony of husband drugging her for an extended period and enlisting numerous individuals to sexually assault her

A French woman, Gisèle Pélicot, aged 72, testified in a court in Avignon, France, about the horrifying ordeal she endured after being drugged and raped by unknown men over a period of ten years. The trial involved 51 men, including her husband of 50 years, Dominique, who admitted to police that he derived satisfaction from watching other men assault his unconscious wife. Numerous defendants in the case disputed the rape charges, claiming they believed they were participating in consensual activities.

Gisèle Pélicot made the courageous decision to forgo her right to anonymity in order to hold the accused accountable and speak out for all women who have been unknowingly drugged. She described the moment of shock and betrayal when she discovered evidence of the abuse during a police interview in November 2020, initially believing it was related to a separate incident involving her husband taking inappropriate photographs.

The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior where Dominique allegedly orchestrated encounters with men through online platforms, drugging Gisèle to facilitate the assaults in their home. The men were given specific instructions to ensure Gisèle remained unconscious during the assaults, with Dominique recording the disturbing acts for his own gratification.

Despite the once-happy marriage and the challenges they had overcome together, Gisèle's world shattered upon learning the extent of the abuse. She faced the painful task of informing her children about their father's actions and the subsequent impact on their family. Gisèle expressed her disgust and disappointment at the lack of remorse shown by the accused and the devastating toll the revelations had taken on her mental and physical well-being.

As the trial continues, Gisèle remains resolute in seeking justice and holding those responsible accountable for their actions. She has taken steps towards divorcing her husband and is determined to rebuild her life in the aftermath of the trauma she has endured. Through her bravery and unwavering resolve, Gisèle's testimony serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience and strength of survivors of such heinous acts.

Gisele testified sharing a victim impact statement on Thursday morning, detailing the events that unfolded on September 19, 2020, when her then-husband confessed to filming three women under their skirts in a public setting. Despite her initial shock at this revelation, she chose to forgive him, warning that there could be no repeat of such behavior. Little did she anticipate the disturbing truth that would soon come to light.

Following her husband's arrest on charges of upskirting, authorities seized his electronic devices and uncovered a trove of photos and videos depicting the victim being sexually assaulted by multiple men. Additionally, images of the couple's daughter and daughters-in-law, seemingly captured without their knowledge, were also discovered, as reported by Babonneau.

Less than two months later, the couple was called to a nearby police station, where the victim was confronted with images of herself dressed in unfamiliar attire, alongside unknown men, further deepening the harrowing nature of her husband's actions.

In a poignant court appearance on Thursday, the woman emotionally recounted the devastating impact of discovering her husband's betrayal. "My world falls apart," she expressed to the court, reflecting on the collapse of the life she had built with Mr. Pélicot - a family unit comprising three children, seven grandchildren, and a once-strong marital bond. Overwhelmed by the turmoil, she confessed that her immediate instinct was to simply "disappear."

Facing the court, Gisele bravely acknowledged the distressing reality of viewing the recordings allegedly made by her ex-husband, capturing her unconscious during acts of assault. Refusing to sugarcoat the severity of the situation, she vehemently rejected any attempt to label the footage as mere "sex scenes," asserting that they were, unequivocally, "rape scenes."

Describing the harrowing scenes depicted in the recordings, she painted a stark picture of herself as a vulnerable and violated figure, subjected to dehumanizing acts by the men involved. The emotional toll of witnessing her own violation while incapacitated was palpable in her testimony, underscoring the profound trauma and anguish inflicted upon her by those who exploited her vulnerability.

Emmanuelle Piet, the president of the Feminist Collective Against Rape, a prominent French advocacy organization, highlighted the distinctive nature of this case, underscoring the meticulous recording and cataloging of the alleged rapes. In an interview with The Post on Thursday, Piet emphasized that many victims of drug-facilitated assaults struggle to recall the events due to the influence of substances. She noted that survivors often face disbelief and skepticism when reporting such crimes to authorities.

Piet shed light on the prevailing culture of minimizing violence against women and the pervasive denial of rape, pointing out that instances of rape involving drugs - referred to as "chemical submission" in France - are particularly stigmatized and disregarded. The social reluctance to acknowledge and address this form of sexual violence further compounds the challenges faced by survivors seeking justice and support.