Thu Dec 19 12:24:00 UTC 2024: ## Ex-Husband Sentenced to 20 Years in French Mass Rape Case
**Avignon, France** – Dominique Pelicot, 72, was sentenced to 20 years in prison Thursday for the repeated drugging and rape of his ex-wife, Gisele Pelicot, over nearly a decade. The Avignon criminal court also convicted 50 other men, aged 27 to 74, who participated in the rapes. These men received sentences ranging from three to 20 years. There were no acquittals.
The case, which has shocked France and drawn international attention, involved Pelicot inviting dozens of men he met online to his home to rape his unconscious wife. He pleaded guilty and apologized to his family, while most of the other defendants claimed they believed they were participating in a consensual act orchestrated by the couple. The court rejected this defense.
Gisele Pelicot, 72, bravely waived her anonymity, demanding that videos of the abuse, recorded by her ex-husband, be shown in court. Her testimony and the shocking details of the case have sparked widespread outrage and calls for reform of France’s rape laws, which currently lack explicit mention of consent. The presiding judge, Roger Arata, stated that Pelicot will not be eligible for parole until he has served two-thirds of his sentence. The case has made Gisele Pelicot a symbol of resilience and courage for victims of sexual assault.
First Piper 