The Pelicot rape appeal is underway as Husamettin Dogan, 44, challenges his conviction for sexually abusing Gisèle Pelicot. Pelicot, 72, had been drugged unconscious by her husband before being assaulted by multiple men.
On the first day of the appeal trial in Nîmes, southern France, Dogan told the court he “never intended” to rape Pelicot. He admitted having sexual contact with her but claimed he did not know she was drugged.
Pelicot survived nearly a decade of repeated sexual abuse after her husband, Dominique Pelicot, invited men he met online to assault her while she was unconscious. She became an international advocate for women’s rights when she waived her anonymity during the trial of 51 men convicted last year. Dogan is the only one of those 51 men to appeal his conviction.
Pelicot attended the appeals court with her youngest son, Florian. She again waived her anonymity, and supporters outside the courthouse held a banner reading, “Gisèle, women thank you.” The presiding judge, Christian Pasta, reminded the court of the abuse Pelicot endured, including being filmed by her husband, who stored the footage on a hard drive labeled “abuse.”
Dogan was sentenced last year to nine years in prison after video evidence showed him in the Pelicots’ bedroom. At the appeal, he described his actions as unintentional, saying he respected Pelicot and “never wanted to rape this lady.” Dogan arrived at court using a crutch and covering his face with sunglasses and a mask, stating that he is currently unemployed.
At his first trial, Dogan admitted contacting Dominique Pelicot via an online chatroom and traveling to the couple’s home on the night of the incident in June 2019. He claimed he believed it was “just a game” and denied being a rapist. Toxicology reports presented at the appeal confirmed that Pelicot was unconscious in the video and in a nearly fetal position. The judge noted Dominique Pelicot held her head to prevent it from rolling to the side.
Court testimony also revealed Dogan’s difficult upbringing. Born in Turkey, he moved to France as a child. After a fire destroyed his family home, they lived in emergency housing. He later became involved in drug dealing, had prior convictions, and periods of homelessness. Psychiatric experts described him as having a regular sexual relationship with his wife while secretly arranging occasional sexual encounters through online chatrooms.
Dominique Pelicot, considered one of the most severe sex offenders in modern French history, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He is expected to testify at the appeal, likely reiterating, “I am a rapist and all the accused men in this room are rapists.”
Nine jurors—five men and four women—are hearing the case along with three judges. The verdict in Dogan’s appeal trial is expected Thursday.
The Pelicot rape appeal highlights the ongoing struggle for justice in high-profile sexual abuse cases. Advocates note that careful examination of evidence and testimonies is crucial to ensure victims’ rights are upheld and public trust in the legal process is maintained.
