Rallies across France in support of woman who was drugged, raped
Around 30 rallies took place Saturday in Paris and across France in support of Gisèle Pelicot, a rape victim whose story has shocked the country. In a trial that opened last week, her ex-husband admitted to enlisting dozens of strangers to rape her while she was drugged, over a period of ten years.
The court proceedings – which began last week and are running until December – are open to the public at the request of Pelicot, who said she wished to raise awareness about the use of drugs to commit sexual abuse.
Pelicot, now 71, revealed her side of the story during 90 minutes of emotional testimony on Thursday.
For years, she said, she had had strange memory lapses and other health problems and thought she might have had Alzheimer's.
In November 2020, she was invited to speak to investigators, who showed her the images of a decade of sexual abuse orchestrated and filmed by her husband – Dominique Pelicot – and her world fell apart, she said in court.
"The police saved my life by investigating Mister Pelicot's computer," she told the court in the southern city of Avignon, referring to her husband only by his last name.
Shame 'must change sides'
She has requested for the trial to be made public so that "the shame changes sides", one of her lawyers, Stéphane Babonneau told the press.
Gisele Pelicot said she was speaking for "every woman" who's been drugged without knowing it.
"I'm taking back control of my life, to denounce chemical submission. Many women don't have the proof. I have the proof of what I've been through," she said.
The couple's two other sons are still due to speak.
Read more on RFI English
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