French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to Gisèle Pelicot's fight on Friday, a day after a major rape trial in Avignon found her husband guilty of aggravated rape and sentenced him to 20 years in prison on.
“Thank you Gisèle Pelicot,” Macron wrote on platform X. “In the name of justice, you faced the trial with your head held high.”
The president said, “For women, who will always have an avenue to talk to and fight for. For all of us, because your honor and courage have moved and inspired to give to France and the world.”
Dominique Pelicot drugged his wife at the time, abused her and offered her to dozens of strangers for rape while she was very quiet, over almost 10 years.
A court in Avignon sentenced him and his 50 co-defendants on Thursday. The co-defendants received prison terms between three and 15 years.
A handful of those convicted will be released because they have already served their time in custody.
Investigators suspect there are a dozen other perpetrators who have yet to be identified.
After the sentence, Gisèle Pelicot expressed her hope that her problem and its consequences will change society.
Gisèle Pelicot believes she suffered about 200 rapes.
The trial, which had been going on since September, shocked France and the world and started the debate on criminal legislation on sexual violence.
Gisele Pelicot (C) arrived at the courthouse in Avignon, where a decision is expected in the trial against her husband, Dominique Pellicottand 50 other defendants who are accused of drugged her and staged several rapes over nearly ten years. Dominique Pelicot was found guilty of raping his ex-wife in a trial that shocked France and the world. Clement Mahoudeau/AFP/dpa
