Husamettin Dogan, 44, will face a second trial in Nîmes, southern France, after appealing his nine-year prison sentence for raping Gisèle Pelicot. Pelicot, who became a feminist icon after waiving her anonymity in the landmark 2024 trial, is expected to attend the four-day hearing. Her lawyer, Antoine Camus, stated she would rather avoid the ordeal but will be present to assert that 'a rape is a rape, there is no such thing as a small rape'.
Dogan was one of 51 men convicted last year for their roles in the systematic abuse of Pelicot, orchestrated by her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot. Dominique Pelicot drugged his then-wife and invited dozens of men to rape her over nearly a decade in their home in Mazan. He is serving a 20-year sentence and will appear as a witness at the appeal, expected to repeat his earlier statement: 'I am a rapist and all the accused men in this room are rapists.'
Initially, 17 men appealed their convictions, but all except Dogan later withdrew. Dogan, a builder, claimed at the first trial that he believed the encounter was 'just a game', saying, 'I'm not a rapist, that's too heavy for me to bear.' His lawyer declined to comment before the appeal.
The case has drawn global attention, with feminist groups and world leaders expressing support for Pelicot. However, campaigners highlight that the case underscores the prevalence of rape and sexual violence. Recent reports have criticised the French justice system for failing rape complainants, including a European Court of Human Rights ruling against France for mishandling cases involving teenagers and a hospital pharmacist.
