Gis&egrave;le Pelicot, whose courage turned her into a national symbol of resilience, returned to court in N&icirc;mes on Monday for the appeal of Husamettin Dogan, the only man contesting his conviction in France&rsquo;s most shocking rape case.
Dogan, sentenced to nine years in prison last year for raping Pelicot while she was drugged, now claims he was deceived by her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot. Dominique, who drugged and offered his wife to strangers online for nearly a decade, is serving a 20-year prison sentence and is expected to testify during the retrial.&nbsp;&ldquo;I never wanted to rape this lady, whom I respect,&rdquo; Dogan told the court, insisting he &ldquo;never knew she was drugged.&rdquo; Prosecutors, however, allege that Dogan knowingly took part in the assault and have charged him with aggravated rape, a crime that carries up to 20 years in prison.
Pelicot, met with applause as she entered the courthouse, stood firm. &ldquo;I have nothing to be ashamed of. Shame must change sides,&rdquo; she declared, echoing the same words that galvanized France during the initial trial.&nbsp;Of the 51 men convicted in the original proceedings, only Dogan&rsquo;s appeal remains active. The retrial is expected to last four days, with a verdict due Thursday
Beyond the courtroom, Pelicot&rsquo;s case has spurred a national reckoning over sexual violence and accountability in France. Her bravery in waiving anonymity last year led to sweeping discussions on consent, justice, and systemic failure.&nbsp;Honoured with the L&eacute;gion d&rsquo;honneur this July, Gis&egrave;le Pelicot continues to be a voice for survivors across France and a reminder that justice, though slow, can reclaim its dignity through truth.

Gisèle Pelicot Faces Her Rapist’s Appeal in France

Survivor Gisèle Pelicot returns to court as her attacker challenges his rape conviction

Gisèle Pelicot Faces Her Rapist’s Appeal in France

Survivor Gisèle Pelicot returns to court as her attacker challenges his rape conviction

October 8, 2025 | 24:19 IST