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In a poignant interview with BBC Newsnight, Gisèle Pelicot, the focal point of France’s largest rape trial, shared her harrowing experience of betrayal and abuse at the hands of her former husband. The 73-year-old recounted the moment she uncovered the disturbing truth: for years, her husband had drugged her and orchestrated the rape by numerous men, leaving her in a state of disbelief and horror. As she prepares to release her memoir, *A Hymn To Life*, Pelicot reflects on her tumultuous journey of recovery and the difficult task of informing her children about their father’s heinous actions.
A Shocking Revelation
Recalling the fateful day that marked a drastic turn in her life, Pelicot described how she accompanied her husband, Dominique Pelicot, to a local police station in Mazan, southern France. He had been summoned regarding allegations of secretly filming women in a supermarket. What followed was a revelation that would shatter her existence.
“Something exploded inside me,” Pelicot stated, recounting her visceral reaction upon being shown explicit photographs of herself while unconscious, captured without her consent. “It was like a tsunami.” Faced with the truth of her husband’s actions, she was informed by police that she had been repeatedly raped by numerous men—an ordeal meticulously catalogued by her husband on a hard drive.
This unbearable knowledge led Pelicot to make the anguishing phone calls to her three children, a task she describes as perhaps the hardest she has ever faced. “I heard my daughter scream. It was almost inhuman,” she recalled, as her children struggled to comprehend the reality of their father’s depravity.
The Long Road to Healing
The fallout from these revelations affected not only Pelicot but also her children, who felt compelled to erase their father’s presence from their lives. “They realised I was alone, and that I might do something stupid. For them, too, it was like an explosion,” she reflected. In the wake of their father’s actions, her children destroyed family heirlooms, desperately attempting to sever ties with the past.
Despite her suffering, Pelicot chose to publicly waive her right to anonymity during the trial, a decision she has never regretted. “I have never regretted my decision, not once,” she affirmed, recognising the potential impact of her choice on other survivors. “If I was able to do this, all victims can too. I am convinced of this.”
The trial itself, which unfolded over four months, saw Pelicot confronted with the very men who had abused her, their defence strategies often relying on a denial of culpability. “You go through hell in a courtroom. You’re really humiliated,” she stated, underscoring the emotional toll the process took on her and her family.
Bridging the Gap
Pelicot’s relationship with her children has been fraught with tension as they navigated their shared trauma. Her daughter Caroline, in particular, has struggled with feelings of anger and resentment, often feeling like a “forgotten victim.” “It took Caroline time, because she’s filled with hatred and anger—feelings I don’t have,” Pelicot explained. Yet, she remains hopeful that they are on a path toward healing, as they work to rebuild their relationship.
The revelations about her husband did not stop with the trial; further investigations revealed he had confessed to other crimes, including the attempted rape of a young woman and potential involvement in a murder case from 1991. Pelicot expressed her dread at the thought of her husband being a murderer. “I dare hope he is not the perpetrator of this heinous crime,” she said, acknowledging the profound impact such news would have on her family.
A New Chapter
As she continues to put her life back together, Pelicot has found love again with Jean-Loup, a widower she met on Île de Ré. “Life always holds beautiful surprises,” she said, “It’s brought a lot of colour into our lives.” Reflecting on her past, she acknowledges the complexity of her journey. “I have needed to think that the 50 years I spent with Mr Pelicot were not all just a lie,” she shared, revealing the struggle to reconcile her memories with the painful truths she has since uncovered.
As she prepares to confront her ex-husband in prison, seeking answers about the depths of his betrayal, Pelicot embodies resilience. “In life, you always have to choose which path to follow,” she concluded. “As for me, I have always chosen to walk toward the good.”
Why it Matters
Gisèle Pelicot’s story transcends individual tragedy, serving as a powerful reminder of the resilience of survivors and the importance of speaking out against abuse. Her experience sheds light on the complexities of trauma and the often-hidden struggles faced by victims. By sharing her narrative, Pelicot not only seeks justice for herself and her children but also aims to empower others who have endured similar horrors, encouraging them to reclaim their voices in a society that too often silences them.
