The highly publicized rape trial in France concluded on Thursday with 51 men convicted for raping and attempting to rape Gisele Pelicot, including her husband, who had drugged her and facilitated the abuse over several years.

Dominique Pelicot, her husband, received a 20-year prison sentence, while the other 50 men were given sentences ranging from three to 15 years. Among them, two were convicted of attempted rape and two for sexual assault, with the remainder found guilty of rape.

Outside the courthouse in Avignon, southern France, a large crowd erupted in applause and cheers upon hearing the verdict. Supporters had gathered there for months, chanting in favor of Gisele Pelicot and adopting the feminist slogan her ordeal inspired – “shame must change sides.”

“I think of those unrecognized victims whose narratives often remain hidden. It’s important for you to know that we’re in this fight together,” she stated after the verdict.

The trial prompted protests across France and beyond. In September, just weeks after it began, feminists gathered in various cities, including Paris, where thousands assembled at Place de la Republique to rally against “rape culture” and support female victims of sexual assault.

Gisele Pelicot emerged as a symbol of feminism for many when she chose to waive her right to anonymity, bravely revealing the harsh realities of her experience. The defendants, often termed “Mr. Everyman” in France, represented a wide array of backgrounds, from firefighters to DJs, with some being married with children while others were single, spanning an age gap of nearly 50 years.

Early in the proceedings, Dominique Pelicot admitted his guilt, declaring, “I am a rapist, just like all the others in this room.”

Police initially arrested him in 2020 for attempting to photograph under women’s skirts in a supermarket. During their investigation, they discovered hundreds of images on his devices depicting his wife being assaulted by him and numerous other men.

This revelation marked a tragic conclusion to what Gisele Pelicot believed was a blissful 50-year marriage. She divorced him before the trial commenced.

Trial Ignites Debate About Rape Convictions and the Justice System

Feminist leaders and activists condemned the case as a blatant critique of how the French legal system deals with rape and sexual violence.

Gisele Pelicot underscored these concerns during her testimony, denouncing “this macho, patriarchal society” and its approach to rape in her closing arguments last month.

Many have noted a troubling rise in sexual assault incidents in the country – which doubled from 2017 to 2019 – contrasted with a very low conviction rate of less than 5%, despite tens of thousands of rapes reported in recent years. Moreover, nine out of ten assaults reportedly go unreported, according to various estimates.

Others have raised alarms about “chemical submission,” referring to drug-facilitated rape. Until her husband’s arrest, Gisele Pelicot had attributed her memory blackouts to potential health issues, mistakenly believing it could be signs of a brain tumor or Alzheimer’s disease.

In response to the trial, Violette Perrotte, director of Le Maison des Femmes, which runs services for female violence victims, revealed that the organization has begun training medical professionals to identify signs of drugging in victims.

“The trial highlighted a significant gap in training for healthcare providers regarding the recognition of domestic violence victims,” said Perrotte.

She questioned how many women with signs similar to Pelicot’s could have sought help at medical centers but went unrecognized due to a lack of provider awareness.

Pelicot Children Urge Court for Severe Punishment

Throughout the trial, the Pelicot children expressed their profound resentment towards their father, describing how his actions shattered their family. The couple’s two sons labeled their father as “dead” to them and pleaded with the court for harsh penalties against him.

Their only daughter, Caroline Darian, believes her father also drugged and assaulted her, a claim he refutes. However, graphic images of Darian were discovered on his devices.

Darian has started a campaign to raise awareness about chemical submission, using the hashtag #Mendorspas, which translates to “Don’t put me under.” Additionally, she is working on a book titled “I’ll Never Call Him Dad Again: Turning our family trauma of Chemical Submission into a collective fight,” expected to be published next month.

Feminists React to Sentencing Outcomes

French feminists gathered outside the courtroom to celebrate the convictions, but many voiced their discontent with the sentences, which they felt were inadequate. While Dominique Pelicot received a substantial sentence, the others received prison terms ranging from three to 15 years—these sentences fell short of the prosecution’s demands for 4 to 18 years.

Alyssa Ahrabare, who leads the French Coordination for the European Women’s Lobby, described the verdict as “a mixed victory.”

Ahrabare noted that the men’s sentences were below the national average, stating, “Given the lengthy process and the severity of the case, the penalties should have been more severe.”

She also criticized the trial process, which requires victims like Pelicot to endure prolonged legal battles, face their attackers in court, and deal with invasive questioning. During the proceedings, some feminists condemned the defense’s line of questioning toward Gisele Pelicot, which suggested she was either an alcoholic or a participant in consensual sexual activities within a marriage.

Anissa Rami, a French feminist activist who spoke at a protest, expressed that the length of the sentences was “a shame.” She hopes that the discussions ignited by the trial will continue.

“While I don’t have faith in the justice system, I have hope in the women who feel less isolated,” she expressed.