Women and men demonstrated together Saturday in Paris and other French cities in support of Gisèle Bellico and against the sexual violence highlighted by the horrific trial of her ex-husband and dozens of other men who were on trial for rape while she was deliberately drugged and unconscious.
Demonstrations outside the criminal court in Paris, in the southeastern city of Lyon and elsewhere underscored how Bellicault’s courage to speak out about her ordeal inspires people in France and beyond, even as they are horrified by the scale and brutality of the abuses she was subjected to. She suffered for a decade.
Since the start of the extraordinary trial on September 2, during which Bellicott faced 51 of her alleged rapists, she has been praised for her composure and decision to keep the hearings public – after the court had initially suggested they be held behind closed doors.
People gather to participate in a protest against sexual violence, in Paris, France, Saturday, October 19, 2024.
Christoph Ena/Associated Press
“She decided to make this trial symbolic,” said Elsa Labouré, a demonstrator in Paris and spokeswoman for the women’s group “Osez le féminisme.” (Dare to be a feminist!)
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“Victims do not have to do what she did. They have the right to protect their identity. This is not necessarily an obligation for any victim. But what I decided to do is very important because now we cannot ignore the violence that some men can resort to,” she added.
The demonstrators denounced what they said was the French judicial system’s laxity toward sexual violence and fears of rape and assault that they said haunt women day after day.
They held signs reading: “Shame must change,” “Stop denial,” “Not your punching ball,” and “We are all Gisele.” Are you all Dominic???”
Dominic Bellico admitted during the trial that he had repeatedly drugged his wife over nearly a decade without meaning to, and invited dozens of men to rape her while she lay unconscious in their bed.
He told the court that he had also raped Giselle and that the other 50 men also on trial understood exactly what they were doing. I have divorced him since his arrest. The trial is expected to continue until December.
The defendants’ ages range between 26 and 74 years. Many of them deny rape by Giselle Bellico, saying that her then-husband manipulated them or that they thought she consented to it.
Giselle Bellico, whose ex-husband allegedly drugged her so she could be raped unconscious by other men, leaves a courtroom in Avignon, southern France, Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
Louis Joly/Associated Press
“You can never know who is the rapist or who is the monster. It could be your neighbor or anyone,” said Khalil Ndiaye, a student in Paris.
“It’s really disgusting to think that it could be people you know, or people you hang out with every day, that could do things like that.”
He said he considers Giselle Bellico an icon.
“Because she decided, in light of her pain, not to give up and not just lie on the ground,” he said. “She decided to fight. And we’re all here today because she’s fighting and she’s inspiring us to fight too.”
& Edition 2024 The Canadian Press
