PARIS (AP) – Gisèle Pelicot's life changed forever when she received horrifying news from a French police officer. The officer revealed that fifty-three men had come to their house with the intent to rape her, turning her world upside down. In her book and various interviews, Gisèle shares her harrowing story of survival and bravery following a landmark trial in 2024, where she became a powerful symbol against sexual violence and her husband, Dominique Pelicot, was imprisoned for orchestrating her assault.

In the extracts from her book "A Hymn to Life, Shame Has to Change Sides," published by French newspaper Le Monde, Gisèle recounts the tragic events of November 2, 2020. On that day, police summoned her then-husband, Dominique, for questioning after a supermarket security guard caught him secretly filming up women's skirts. Gisèle, who accompanied him to the police station, was ill-prepared for the shocking revelations that awaited her.

Officer Laurent Perret carefully unveiled the disturbing truth to Gisèle. He explained how the man she trusted—her husband—had turned her into an unwitting victim of his sordid desires. "I am going to show you photos and videos that are not going to please you," he said, leaving Gisèle in a state of disbelief. The first image the officer showed was of a woman, appearing vulnerable and dressed in a suspender belt, who was being raped. "That's you in this photo," the officer revealed, further shocking Gisèle.

As the officer continued to present evidence, Gisèle was confronted with images taken by Dominique over the years. He had repeatedly knocked her unconscious by drugging her food and drink, allowing men he invited to their home to rape and assault her while he filmed the events. Gisèle recalled her utter disbelief at the sight of the limp, unrecognizable woman in the photos, stating, "My brain stopped working in the office of Deputy Police Sergeant Perret." She described the woman as a "rag doll," unable to comprehend the reality of her victimization.

The revelations triggered a national conversation about the pervasive nature of rape culture in France. The trial, which concluded in December 2024, resulted in guilty verdicts for all fifty-one defendants involved in the case. Dominique Pelicot was convicted alongside forty-nine other men for rapes and sexual assaults committed over nearly a decade, while another individual was found guilty of drugging and raping his own wife with Dominique's assistance.

The court imposed the maximum sentence of 20 years on Dominique Pelicot for his heinous crimes, holding him accountable for the devastation he inflicted on his wife and countless others. This shocking case brought to light critical issues surrounding gender-based violence and the systemic failures that allow such atrocities to persist.

As Gisèle Pelicot continues to share her story, her courage serves as a beacon of hope for survivors of sexual violence, prompting a much-needed dialogue in society about the urgent need for change.