Appeal Leads to Lengthened Sentence for Pelicot's Rapist

Sat Oct 11 2025 00:32:48 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A French court has increased the prison sentence of Husamettin Dogan, who was convicted for raping Gisèle Pelicot, after he contested his conviction, highlighting issues surrounding consent and the legal handling of sexual violence cases.

In a significant court ruling in France, the original nine-year prison sentence of Husamettin Dogan, convicted of aggravated rape, has been increased to ten years after he appealed his conviction in a case that has attracted much public and media attention. The case revolves around the tragic story of 72-year-old Gisèle Pelicot, who was drugged and repeatedly assaulted by numerous men over a decade, while her husband orchestrated these horrific acts. The ruling emphasizes the ongoing struggle for justice in sexual assault cases, particularly regarding the understanding of consent.

A court in southern France has increased by a year the jail term of the only man who challenged his conviction for raping Gisèle Pelicot.

The 72-year-old retired grandmother was drugged unconscious by her then-husband Dominique for over a decade and raped by dozens of men he recruited on the internet.

Husamettin Dogan, 44, had argued he was innocent, despite graphic video footage shown in court of him penetrating a motionless Gisèle Pelicot.

But the court of appeal in Nîmes rejected his argument and extended his original nine-year jail term to 10 years. He was convicted of aggravated rape last December, during a trial in which 50 other men were also convicted.

Public prosecutor Dominique Sié had asked the court to impose a 12-year term on Dogan, who claimed he himself had been a victim, trapped by Dominique Pelicot. The prosecutor highlighted Dogan's unwillingness to take responsibility for a massive act that had caused destruction to Gisèle's humanity.

Despite being held in pre-trial detention ahead of last year's trial, Dogan has not served any actual time in prison since then.

Police were able to identify the men who raped Gisèle thanks to the videos Dominique Pelicot made during the acts. Of the 51 men given jail terms, 17 initially appealed but soon withdrew.

Dogan was the only one to carry his appeal to court.

Throughout the trial, he maintained that he could not be guilty of rape since he did not realize Gisèle was drugged by her husband.

The Nîmes proceedings functioned as a retrial with a jury consisting of nine public members and three judges.

Evidence presented included videos showing a clearly unconscious Gisèle during the assaults. Yet Dogan insisted he had no intention to rape and saw himself as a victim too.

“I performed a sexual act, I never raped anyone,” he stated during the trial.

Gisèle Pelicot has consistently declared her victimhood, stating, “I am the only victim,” and emphasizing that she never gave consent.

In a pointed address to Dogan, she remarked that he failed to understand the nature of his crime, challenging him to accept the reality of what transpired.

Gisèle’s public fight for justice has garnered international attention, yet her journey has also resulted in deep familial rifts, particularly concerning her daughter Caroline, who reportedly faced similar traumas.

Reflecting on the impact of her experiences, Gisèle said, “I hope Caroline finds the answers she is looking for. I hope one day we can find each other again.”

As the trial concluded, Gisèle reaffirmed her solidarity with other survivors, urging them to never feel shame for their experiences. “It is not their fault,” she asserted.