French Prosecutor Seeks 20 Years in Prison for Main Accused in Controversial Rape Case

The French prosecutor's office, after holding eleven court sessions for the case involving the rape of a woman by dozens of men in southern France, has requested the maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the main accused in the case, Dominique Polico, and 'severe punishment' for 21 other defendants. This indictment was issued on Monday, December 5, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and while this case has received international attention, the French Prime Minister has welcomed this prosecution. The prosecutor's office requested a maximum sentence of 20 years for Dominique Polico due to his 'abhorrent actions' against his wife, Ghislaine. The prosecutor expressed hope that this trial could facilitate a 'change in the relationships between men and women.' Ghislaine Polico has become a symbol of the fight against gender-based violence due to her courage in listening to the horrifying details of this case. The deputy prosecutor, addressing the court, stated, 'I ask you to declare Dominique Polico guilty for all the actions he is accused of.' This exceptional case in French history involves 50 defendants aged between 26 and 74. In this case, 71-year-old Mr. Polico is accused of facilitating the rape of dozens of men over a decade by drugging his wife and filming the assaults. Ghislaine Polico's courage to publicly attend court sessions and listen to the horrific details has made her a symbol of the fight against gender-based violence even outside France. The deputy prosecutor praised Ms. Polico's bravery in hearing the details of being raped by over 50 men and reminded that December 5 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, stating, 'French society has a long way to go to correct its attitudes towards rape culture.' A French woman who was raped said, 'My body is warm, but I am dead.' Two days ago, women activists held demonstrations across France, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, once again holding photos of the victim and calling for an end to sexual violence. Yelena Mandenge, a lawyer and member of a women's advocacy NGO, told AFP at the Paris demonstration, 'This trial was certainly a shock for the entire population of France. Given what has happened, it was a shock, but for us women, gender minorities, and activists, it was not surprising, as we have long condemned events like the one this trial is based on in feminist movements.' Cecile Palize, an art teacher, also stated at the demonstration, 'It is important to note that the rapists, as right-wing media often try to portray, are not foreigners; they are men like others, and more importantly, they are people we know, often within families, our relatives, our husbands, our fathers, our colleagues. Therefore, from this perspective, it did not surprise us.' Some other participants in the demonstration believed that holding a trial for the perpetrators of gang rapes in southern France is a turning point; one participant stated, 'There will definitely be a before and after regarding this trial, as it is clear that it has truly affected everyone, all segments of society, whoever they may be.' However, aside from sexual violence, women are still victims of various other forms of violence even in developed societies. According to statistics from the French Ministry of the Interior last year, approximately 271,000 cases of domestic violence, the vast majority of whom were women, were recorded by French security forces. This figure represents a 10 percent increase compared to the previous year. Physical violence constitutes 64 percent of domestic violence cases, with the remaining cases including verbal or psychological violence, threats, invasion of privacy, insults and defamation, and sexual violence.