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Topics: Crime, News, World News
Madison Burgess
Warning: this article discusses rape and sexual assault which some readers may find distressing
The only man who challenged his conviction for raping Gisèle Pelicot has been handed a longer sentence.
It emerged today (9 October) that a court in southern France has bumped 44-year-old Husamettin Dogan's jail time up by a year, taking it from nine years to a whole decade.
For those who need a reminder of the horrific case, 72-year-old Gisèle was drugged unconscious for over a decade by her then-husband Dominique, and raped by dozens of men he had recruited on the internet.
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Her ex-husband and 50 other men were convicted of sexually assaulting her between 2011 and 2020 while she was under chemical submission.
The landmark trial drew worldwide attention after the grandmother opposed a closed hearing, which was a demand made by several of the defendants.
Among the evidence was stomach-churning homemade videos of the abuse that Dominique filmed in the couple’s home in the small Provence town of Mazan and elsewhere.
“I have nothing to be ashamed of. Shame must change sides,” Gisèle said on the trial’s opening day.
She has since become a symbol of the fight against sexual violence, and the shocking case spurred a national reckoning over rape culture in France.
Today, it has been brought into the spotlight once again, after Husamettin Dogan, who was sentenced to nine years in prison last December, denied he intended to rape her.
He argued his innocence, despite graphic videos being shown to the court of him raping the victim while she was unconscious.
Dogan argued that he was deceived by Dominique, however, the Nîmes court of appeal rejected his argument and instead extended his original jail term by a year.
He claimed he didn't realise she had been drugged by her husband against her will and said he 'never raped anyone'.
Dogan told the court: "I performed a sexual act, I never raped anyone. For me, rape means forcing someone, tying them up, I don't know… I am a victim."
He also claimed he had 'suspicions' that something about the situation wasn't right, calling Dominique a 'manipulator'.
Of the 51 convicted men in the case, 17 initially filed appeals but most of those were withdrawn and only Dogan pursued his appeal.
As per the BBC, Dogan is a married father who was born in Turkey.
Gisèle told the court: "I am the only victim," and again denied she had ever given her consent.
While Dominique, who was also present as a witness, confirmed that all of the men recruited on chatrooms were told 'she would be drugged' and clarified that he had explicitly told Dogan he was 'looking for someone to abuse my sleeping wife without her knowledge'.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline on 0808 500 222, available 24/7. If you are currently in danger or need urgent medical attention, you should call 999.