Who knew? Mazan mass rape trial shocks France • FRANCE 24 English

"Rape is rape." Gisèle Pélicot emphatic on the stand Wednesday in a trial that has sent shockwaves beyond France’s borders: the 71-year old retiree batting away suggestions that the 50 defendants invited by her ex-husband to enter their bedroom when she was under sedation could have engaged in anything in the slightest consensual.
#Mazan mass rape trial #Gisele Pelicot #Rape
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[@anastasia10017]

Can Gisele sue the doctors who blew off her symptoms ? She went to many doctors with various medical complaints from the abuse and none of them helped her. The French doctors cannot even sniff out drug abuse and a gynecologist cannot recognize signs of abuse ??

[@aracelihernandez4478]

Maybe those doctors are the husband’ friends???

[@aracelihernandez4478]

Remember in the list there is a NURSE MAN😮😮😮😮😮😮

[@BarcaForever47]

​@@aracelihernandez4478 hmm, now this makes a lot of sense.

[@joejohnson6327]

@@aracelihernandez4478 Is there a hospital with a gynecologist in Mazan? It's a village.

[@eback7303]

This is a mind opening/paradigm shifting case and all women seeing this and their Drs are NOW made more aware that a "good"husband and partner can be doing such depraved acts ( this is mind blowing) , but beforehand who would even be able to think it was a possibility? -it wouldn't even been remotely contemplated by herself or the Drs as she was a happily married woman according to herself and she was unaware of the drugging. Health professionals I imagine simply didn't have enough evidence or symptoms to even suspect this was happening but hopefully from now on they will also consider the possibility of something like this happening but I imagine she would have been insulted and disbelieve if anyone had suggested it before she was shown the videos.. All women ( happily married or not) should now be on notice to consider drugging if they have any funny things that have been occurring no matter how seemingly minor. I sadly suspect this is far more prevalent than what we ever thought. The 50 odd rapists are reportedly from just the local community and easily recruited so one must wonder what percentage of seemingly "normal" men in our communities if given the opportunity would take the offer up? Scary stuff

[@babyruthless9670]

Honestly, the scariest part of this whole case is that he wouldn't have been caught if those women didn't notify the security at the grocery store about him taking pictures/recording under other women skirts 😭😢

[@pynn1000]

The security guard's response was first class. French is not my first language but I know enough to recognize he, like me, is a "foreigner".

[@anastasia10017]

@@pynn1000 I saw the video of the security guard -- he is not a foreigner. He has a provencal accent.

[@pynn1000]

@@anastasia10017 I'm really bad at English regional accents, let alone French. I thought I recognized provençal with the soft "g" after "pain", "vin" etc. Thanks for the correction.

[@anastasia10017]

50 men were easily identified on the videos and arrested by the French police. those are the men in court now. But approximately 80 men are on video abusing Gisele. So there are approximately 30 more men for which the police are still searching and need to be brought to justice.

[@Cauldron6]

They are our neighbours and coworkers and fathers and brothers and husbands. Horrifying that these men move through the world despite being monsters.

[@c.g.bspendersashtray3037]

​@@Cauldron6- When I read a list of some of their jobs, the most terrifying one to me, is the ambulance driver. That's the one fear I have about hospitals - that men like that are all too real.

[@auroralights2759]

​@@c.g.bspendersashtray3037Ambulance driver😳? How is he going to say that he doesn't know that she was drugged, she was just pretend? It is disgusting.

[@maddiesilina3833]

The fact that we have to have these conversations in 21st century is very sad! 😢

[@ceciliawilson6328]

The husband left SO much evidence on his computer and labeled the file with videos of the rapes "against her will." He obviously wanted to be caught, and at least part of his psyche did. It's not an excuse but an observation. He knew what he was doing, and so did all these men.

[@MikeBenko]

I don't think he wanted to be caught. I think he just felt so emboldened that he never even considered he could be caught, and he could just carry on with impunity.

[@Seabird41]

​@@MikeBenkohe knew he was breaking the law. The truth is in the title of his filmed rapes file. He recognised his own perversions and compulsive behaviour, so he was walking on thin ice as far as being caught went. He compiled a huge amount of evidence against himself, knowing he could be caught or be reported to the police at any time.

[@MikeBenko]

@@Seabird41 criminals do not think they will be caught. Otherwise we would have no crime. Especially people like this guy. He gaslit his wife and family into thinking she was somehow sick, he kept getting away with it again and again. Which likely meant his behavior escalated, and he felt comfortable recording everything. That's also probably why he started targeting other women.

[@myriadfantasies]

@ceciliawilson6328 In his mind, those videos are not evidence - but rather the "trophies" of his exploits. Most serials killers and sex offenders often keep a detailed record of their so-called "victories". That's what this is.

[@hilberryable]

Eventually the shame is being flipped onto the perpetrators, and not on the victims. And rightly so.

[@elenivargis126]

Are wives still considered "property" of their husband's in France? Have your Property Laws been changed to reflect reality a wife is independent person from her husband?

[@pynn1000]

In fact, Gisèle divorced her husband to protect the "family" wealth when he became bankrupt, then remarried him later. So I guess the woman is not considered property.

[@joejohnson6327]

No, wives aren't considered property of their husbands in France. France isn't an Islamic republic.

[@marilenaganea6578]

One more reason for which I will NEVER get married... Thanks but no thanks!

[@David-cm4ok]

Get a grip.

[@elenamonteagudo9855]

Happy single child free lady here ☝️😎💪

[@catherinewoolf504]

This isn’t something that happens on a regular basis. Not all men do this sort of thing

[@user-gz5mx2nd5p]

I am shocked to hear the reasons that men wanted to humiliate and hurt women as well along with total lack of empathy. This case is so shocking and heartbreaking and yet Gisèle has restored my faith in humanity. She knowingly fighting for the rights of victims globally at such a huge expense to herself when it is not done usually.

[@MayThereBeWorldPeace]

And, how many of those men turned around and made videos of their own after drugging others (men and women)?

[@c.g.bspendersashtray3037]

There's at least one directly related to Dominique Pelicot. You can do a search for details. There is an unrelated case in Korea. There have been many cases like this that don't make international news. Those don't include the ones that meet the legal definition for trafficking either.

[@MayThereBeWorldPeace]

@@c.g.bspendersashtray3037 Thank you. I will search it out. It's extremely sad. Humans being treated like trash.

[@anastasia10017]

Jean Pierre Marechal is a buddy of Dominique Pelicot. Mr. Marechal invited Mr. Pelicot over to his house to drug his own wife and r@ped her many times. Weirdly, his wife has not divorced him. Mr. Marechal has testified in Court and is identified in the press now. I am sure there are many others because this is just too easy. I think in the end, we will find out half the women in the area were subjected to this nightmare.

[@anastasia10017]

@@MayThereBeWorldPeace P Diddy is in the news and is sitting in jail today. Apparently, he was drugging women too so they could "party" for days. It is in every news source.

[@TheLampini]

​@@c.g.bspendersashtray3037 think there's a case going on in Adelaide in Australia.. 😢

[@anastasia10017]

That mayor of Mazan belongs in jail.

[@sandrajune1172]

It beggars belief that a husband could do this to his wife and mother of his children. Evil, evil man.

[@HannaBenana]

He apparently took inappropriate photos of his child as well. Devoid of the ability to empathize and love.

[@wholefoodplantbasedmama5398]

40 years ago when i was a student nurse in Brisbane Australia, there was a situation where a young woman who had been in a coma for many years came into hospital. During her stay we discovered that someone had been having sex with her. Turned out to be her husband and his friends. It was all kept very quiet and she was eventually sent to a nursing home where that was not going to happen (at least by her husband). Nothing appeared in the news or media back then, it was all hushed up. All I know is her name was Patricia. How horrific for this and the French woman to be used in such a way.

[@grioulaloula8594]

Wow. I understand why it was kept quiet some people would have a hard time believing it.

[@user-dq2fm7xr8dsteviestevie]

Those 50 defendants should be in prison!

[@aracelihernandez4478]

With that man as a Father I will rather to be horfane.He is the worst person in the entire WORLD.I will change my name, my address, everything. Shame on him.

[@MayThereBeWorldPeace]

Honest to God, the internet is like a dragon's tail unleashed!! Internet does a lot of good but actually mostly bad.

[@c.g.bspendersashtray3037]

Like any tool or technology, it depends on what sort of person you are ( not you, personally, but the general "you"). Example - My social media consists of music, art, science, film, mechanics, and woodworking. I have friends who work for charities and groups that support trafficking survivors. I often snooze their posts sometimes because it can be emotionally draining. Everyone has a choice of what they allow into their lives. The internet is the same. I don't see it as "mostly bad" because I choose not to wallow in the mud or engage with the sorts who spread wrongful or hateful things. My block list on FB is well over 20,000 since I joined the site in 2007. I choose not to engage with such people.

[@MayThereBeWorldPeace]

@@c.g.bspendersashtray3037 Thanks. Yes you are right, it depends on who we are, what our own values are. Internet is indeed a useful tool but when it hurts, it really hurts. Have a good day.

[@briannao9251]

Dominique Pelicot is Larry Nassar Levels of sick!!

[@MC-zr6gc]

And no matter what their sentences are, they'll still remain "on the census".... 😐

[@aracelihernandez4478]

I think the lawyers that protect rapist or criminal like them, They are so STUPID , NO RESPECT FOT THEM.

[@susanrhein7546]

In other programs I've watched about this case, they said the husband was also secretly filming his daughter and daughter in law when they were changing their clothes or in the bathroom. If true, it makes we wondering what else he has done.

[@joejohnson6327]

I'm a man and I don't feel any "abject male solidarity" with male abusers of any kind, lady. 😒

[@TheLampini]

Why are there so many men who DO feel like that, do you think?

[@basicallyno1722]

Unfortunately many men do…

[@joejohnson6327]

@@TheLampini Exactly what percentage of mentally healthy men do you think feel solidarity with rapists?

[@TheLampini]

@@joejohnson6327 😂 define mentally healthy.. according to a study in America, 70 percent of men would commit rape on an unconscious person if they knew they could get away with it.

[@catherinewoolf504]

@@joejohnson6327 She can’t answer that!

[@BernardSenyo-y4m]

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN ON EARTH

[@kushsakhu]

Sick sick sick 🤬

[@joannejohnson7006]

My deepest condolences And gratitude for showing us p for this woman. It’s a violent crime and I hope she gets justice

[@hilberryable]

Unfortunately, the Defence lawyers have to try to discredit the woman in court as part of their job to defend the man and men they are representing. This is just the way trials are conducted. It does not mean that those questions put to her are true at all and the judgement later should be able to determine the correct conclusions.

[@tangojuli209]

So you are saying, not so differently from the mayor's comments, that its okay tosuggest that a women WANTED to knocked out and be violently raped for a personal perversion, to humiliate a woman on national TV because they are Just Trying To Help the Perpetrator?

[@kathrynhobbs8874]

It’s just the way the trials are conducted? Does that make it right? Win a case by defaming the victim? Do we do that to any other trial, blame the male victim of GBH? Blame the bank for the bank raid by armed attack, ….. No of course. Not. It’s easy to blame the morals of a woman in cases like this.

[@jenniferhunter4074]

@@kathrynhobbs8874 Exactly. They have the videos in this case and still, they choose to use these tactics? The only reason these tactics are used is to scare women into being quiet. If men had to endure that, they would get legislation passed because men's feelings must be coddled.

[@kathrynhobbs8874]

@@jenniferhunter4074 to be facetious, I fully expect to hear ‘ well she was lying unconscious in a provocative manner’

[@TheOther-e8r]

There is no Carlton University of Victoria BC. I live here.

[@aaronnava2985]

Just like to point out this sexual assault happens to everyone. I remember hearing about how the asylum seeker had a rape thing too. I feel sad the lady. Um idk. I dont know all the facts. Rape is bad. But remember this next time someone accuses a specific group or people. Frenchmen can be gentlemen or well mosters same as other people. Rape is about power not sex

[@basicallyno1722]

People aren’t downing the French for the crimes of these men…if anything French laws on rape are questioned, which opens up more questions about the culture which allows such crimes. you should remember to get all the facts before speaking.

[@rachellegrim2697]

'Delinquents' come in all shapes and sizes. ...and no one 'just finds themselves' involved in an activity they found online and had discussions about beforehand.

[@elenivargis126]

Hey France24, Carleton University is in Ottawa, not Victoria BC, Canada

[@socraticdialogue29.]

As a Canadian, thanks for pointing this out. They need to do their research prior to guests coming on TV.

[@Moamanly]

@@socraticdialogue29. The guest had every opportunity to correct the mistake.

[@merlinsreturn]

The least articulate person interviewed was the professor from Canada.

[@Handletaken4]

Wait what? 10 yrs?

[@BlackSwan-qj8qs]

Please, no victim blaming! Another form of abuse.

[@delfineterno6869]

TEN years of heavily sedation... various times a week, with increasing doses as the effect was fading earlier each time due to overuse... imagine what that had done to the poor woman... had not those ladies at the supermarket noticed the filming and informed security this woman would have been lost and NOBODY would have suspected anything like this... so sad..

[@anastasia10017]

Gisele went to the French doctors because she had strange medical problems, she could not think clearly, she was getting STDs .... and the French doctors all blew her off. The fact that a French gynocologist cannot recognize signs of SA on his patient is mind boggling.

[@jploel8799]

we can actually talk about this issue WITHOUT platforming women who want ot empower law enforcement to hunt down sex workers >>

[@MarthaLampley]

Consenting adult sex work is not rape. Women who want to try to eradicate consenting sex work should not be talking conflating

[@c.g.bspendersashtray3037]

​​@@MarthaLampley- No, you cannot buy consent. The moment money is traded, consent is not happening. It is monetised rape. There is no such thing as "consenting sex work" because sex is not work. If it were, it would be mostly males encouraging their sons to do it. Those who claim that they "choose it?" Would they have sex with those men if money was not exchanged? In almost all cases, the answer is no. It is a power imbalance, much like when police officers have been known to claim a woman under arrest "consented" to have sex with them. This has and is happening in NYC, yet there are no laws against police officers using their position of power to rape women they have arrested. Money is power. Wake up.

[@bernadettecrawford3656]

😢

[@Ali-e5h1b]

20:20 - To be exceedingly charitable... French law may allow that; and it may sound irrational to other foreign legal philosophies. But the throughline is human dignity.