Gisèle Pelicot, arrives at the court in Nîmes on Thursday. Photograph: Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images
A French appeals court has increased the prison sentence of the only man who contested his conviction in the rape case of Gisèle Pelicot, a 72-year-old woman who was drugged and assaulted by dozens of men over more than a decade.
The Nîmes Court of Appeal extended the sentence of Husamettin Dogan from nine to ten years, rejecting his claims of innocence despite video evidence showing him assaulting an unconscious Pelicot. Dogan, 44, was convicted of aggravated rape in December alongside 50 other men.
Public prosecutor Dominique Sié had sought a 12-year term, describing Dogan’s actions as part of a “massive act of destruction of a woman” and criticizing his failure to accept responsibility. Dogan maintained that he was “trapped” by Pelicot’s husband, Dominique, who orchestrated the assaults and filmed them.
Although Dogan spent time in pre-trial detention, he has not been incarcerated since the original trial. He was the only one of 51 convicted men to pursue an appeal; 17 others initially filed but later withdrew.
Graphic Evidence and Renewed Denial
During the appeal proceedings, jurors again viewed disturbing video footage showing Pelicot unconscious and unresponsive during the assaults. Despite this, Dogan denied any intent to rape, arguing he had not realized she was drugged.
Husamettin Dogan had argued he was also a victim in the case and denied rape
“I performed a sexual act, I never raped anyone,” Dogan told the court. “For me, rape means forcing someone, tying them up. I am a victim.”
Pelicot, who testified publicly for the first time since the 2023 trial, firmly rejected his claims. “I am the only victim,” she told the court. “The first time I saw [Dogan’s] face was when I saw the videos of him raping me. They are forever etched in my memory.”
Husband Confirms He Told Men His Wife Would Be Unconscious
Dominique Pelicot, who appeared as a witness, confirmed that all the men he contacted online were informed his wife would be drugged. “They were told she would be unconscious,” he said, adding that he explicitly told Dogan he was seeking “someone to abuse my sleeping wife without her knowledge.”
Pelicot’s testimony at the appeal echoed her previous statements describing years of unexplained illness and memory loss, which she later learned were side effects of the sedatives administered by her husband.
A Survivor’s Search for Peace
Gisèle Pelicot and her son, Florian Pelicot, leaves court after the verdict. Photograph: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images
Pelicot’s decision to make her original trial public drew international attention to her case, but she has largely retreated from the spotlight since the verdicts. Her appearance in Nîmes marked her first public statement in months.
Reflecting on the toll of the abuse, she said her family continues to grapple with its aftermath. Her daughter, Caroline Darian, has alleged that she too was drugged and abused by her father after photographs of her unconscious were found on his computer. The two women are reportedly no longer in contact.
“My family is trying to rebuild itself however it can,” Pelicot said. “I hope [Caroline] finds the answers she is looking for. I hope one day we can find each other again.”
Pelicot also asked not to be labeled a symbol. “I am an ordinary woman who dared to open up her trial,” she said. “I have become an icon against my will.”
She ended her statement with a message to other survivors: “Never be ashamed of what was inflicted upon us, because it is not our fault.”
Woohooo!!!🔥👏🏼💕
That’s great!
I wonder—would an appeals court in the US be able to increase someone’s sentence?