By Manisha Sahu, America News World
October 10, 2025
A French appeal court has rejected the appeal of Husamettin Dogan, a former construction worker convicted of the aggravated rape of Gisele Pelicot, and increased his prison sentence from nine to ten years, according to France Info.
The ruling comes nearly a year after Dogan was found guilty of participating in the systematic sexual abuse of Pelicot -a 72 years old woman who has since become a symbol of courage and resistance in France’s ongoing battle against gender-based violence.
Pelicot made headlines after waiving her right to anonymity to testify publicly against her abusers, transforming her personal trauma into a nationwide conversation on consent, sexual exploitation, and justice for survivors.
During the appeal hearing, Pelicot faced Dogan — the only one among 51 men accused in the case who chose to challenge his conviction. Her husband, Dominique Pelicot, was previously found guilty of drugging and orchestrating assaults against her for nearly a decade, recruiting dozens of men online to rape her while she was unconscious.
A lawyer for Dogan did not respond to media requests for comment following the court’s decision.
Pelicot’s testimony and activism have since elevated her as a leading feminist voice in France and abroad, prompting lawmakers and rights advocates to call for tougher legal measures and broader social awareness around sexual violence.
This case, often cited as one of France’s most disturbing and defining trials on sexual assault, continues to shape public discourse on women’s safety, consent laws, and survivor empowerment.