French prosecutor seeks 12-year term in Gisele Pelicot rape appeal

Warning: This article contains mentions of rape and sexual abuse.

A French prosecutor requested a 12-year jail term at the appeal hearing of the only man among 50 who claims he is innocent after being convicted of sexually abusing Gisele Pelicot.

A lower court last year sentenced Husamettin Dogan, 44, to a nine-year prison sentence after prosecutors also requested 12 years.

Public prosecutor Dominique Sie said he was asking for three extra years in view of "Dogan's stance, in all its rigidity, as he absolutely refuses to take any responsibility."

Dogan has said he never intended to rape Gisele Pelicot and was "trapped" by her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot in 2019 into thinking he would be taking part in a couple's sexual game.

"As long as you refuse to admit it, it's not just a woman, it's an entire sordid social system that you are endorsing," Sie said.

"There needs to be an evolution for you, and for society, from rape culture to a culture of consent."

Gisele Pelicot told the court in the southern city of Nimes that Dogan had raped her and must "take responsibility" for his actions.