Displaying items by tag: France

In a landmark case in Avignon, 72-year-old Dominique Pelicot and fifty co-defendants have been found guilty of mass rape against his wife Gisele over a decade. Dominique, who admitted to drugging and allowing strangers to abuse his wife while filming the assaults, was sentenced to twenty years in prison, with no parole until two-thirds of the sentence is served. Other defendants received sentences ranging from four to eighteen years. Gisele, who waived her anonymity, demanded the horrifying footage be shown in court, stating, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong. They are the ones who must be ashamed.’ Her courage has made her a feminist icon in France, inspiring other survivors to speak out. Supporters cheered as guilty verdicts were announced. The trial, which saw Gisele face her abusers in court, has shaken the nation. Her children stood by her during the proceedings, underscoring the profound impact of her resilience on justice and awareness.

France has intensified relief efforts in Mayotte, with 120 tonnes of food scheduled for distribution. The Indian Ocean archipelago, France's poorest territory, has been under a curfew due to looting and lawlessness following Cyclone Chido’s destructive landfall. Thousands of residents in the capital Mamoudzou are working to repair their homes, while entire communities in the shantytowns have been destroyed. Although the cyclone, the most powerful in ninety years, has led to numerous deaths, with hundreds feared dead, only 22 fatalities have been confirmed due to the inaccessibility of many areas. The situation is further complicated by uncertainty around the population size, with many undocumented migrants from Comoros and Madagascar. Health experts say they are bracing for a surge of disease as dead bodies lie unrecovered and people struggle to access clean drinking water.

French-Cameroonian author Charles Onana has been found guilty of downplaying the Rwandan genocide, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 800,000 people in 1994. He was fined €8,400, and his publisher was fined €5,000. The two must also pay €11,000 in compensation to human rights organisations which filed the lawsuit. A Paris court ruled that Onana’s book, published in 2019, trivialised and contested the genocide in an ‘outrageous manner’, violating France's laws against genocide denial and incitement to hatred. The book suggested that the narrative of a planned genocide by the Hutu government was a ‘scam’, a claim criticised for distorting historical facts. Rwanda's foreign minister has welcomed the court’s decision as a victory. This is the first time in Europe that those denying the genocide have been punished under French law.

Prime minister Michel Barnier has been ousted in a historic no-confidence vote, leading to the collapse of his government. The motion follows his controversial use of special powers to pass a budget without parliamentary approval. The budget, which aimed to reduce the deficit by €60 billion, faced criticism from both the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) and far-right National Rally (RN); Marine Le Pen, RN leader, called it ‘toxic for the French’. This has plunged France into deeper political instability; no new parliamentary elections can be held until July, so the current deadlock in the Assembly - where no group has a working majority - is set to continue. Barnier, appointed by Emmanuel Macron just three months ago, has presented his government’s resignation, but will continue for now in a caretaker capacity. Macron’s presidency remains intact, but pressure on him is mounting.

Notre Dame Cathedral is set to reopen on 7 December, after a five-year restoration following the devastating 2019 fire. Ceremonies will blend tradition and modernity, including a symbolic door-striking ritual led by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich and a solemn Mass on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. (8 December). The restored cathedral features a mix of Gothic preservation and contemporary updates, such as a new altar and reliquary, sparking debate but garnering widespread admiration. Restoration efforts exceeded funding goals, totaling €700 million, and Paris anticipates a renewed influx of visitors. Somewhat surprisingly, Donald Trump’ will be there, joining nearly fifty world leaders: security will be tight, with 6,000 personnel deployed. Conspicuously absent, however, is Pope Francis, whose refusal to attend has fuelled speculation about the Vatican’s priorities. As Notre Dame prepares to welcome the faithful once again, its reopening symbolises resilience and the enduring significance of sacred spaces.

The landmark trial in Avignon, involving the systematic drugging and rape of Gisèle Pelicot by 49 men orchestrated by her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot, has gripped the nation. The prosecution has sought a twenty-year sentence for Pelicot, who admitted to facilitating the assaults over nearly a decade, and 10-18 years for most co-defendants. The case has sparked national debates on consent, male violence, and systemic legal shortcomings. Prosecutors have highlighted Pelicot’s bravery in waiving her anonymity and allowing graphic evidence to be shown, confronting societal shame surrounding sexual violence. Feminist activists have rallied in support, condemning the accused and demanding justice. Defence lawyers, however, argue that many defendants were misled by Pelicot’s claims of his wife's consent. The trial has renewed calls for legal reforms, and Michel Barnier’s government has pledged new measures to combat violence against women. One commentator said: ‘This trial has affected every one of us. What have we done wrong as a society to produce men who are capable of such inhumane behaviour?’

Dominique Pélicot, 71, has admitted in court to repeatedly drugging and facilitating the rape of his wife Gisèle for nearly a decade. In a case that has shaken France, he confessed his role in the assaults, which involved fifty men who are also on trial. His wife, who divorced him following his arrest in 2020, has become a symbol of resilience for rape survivors in France for being willing to waive her anonymity in the case, and to appear openly in front of the media. Pélicot's confession is pivotal for the trial’s outcome, as many co-defendants claim they were unaware or manipulated into participating. He has said that childhood sexual abuse and family trauma led him down this path, and expressed regret for his actions. In contrast, Gisèle told the court she felt utterly betrayed after fifty years of marriage. The trial has drawn public attention to the horrors of domestic sexual violence and the importance of justice for victims.

France, Germany, and the UK have introduced new sanctions on Iran for supplying ballistic missiles to Russia, which US secretary of state Antony Blinken said  will be used against Ukraine. The sanctions include restrictions on Iran Air and travel bans on military officials. UK foreign secretary David Lammy described Iran's actions as ‘a dangerous escalation’. Several individuals and organisations involved in the supply of the missiles face sanctions, and Russian cargo ships transporting these supplies have also been targeted. The Western nations have demanded that Iran halt its missile deliveries, citing security threats to Europe. Blinken and Lammy also flew to Ukraine to ‘hear directly from the leadership’ about their objectives. Volodymyr Zelensky has asked for authorisation to use Western-supplied missiles to strike targets inside Russia - a move the USA has so far resisted. Russia continues to make advances in eastern Ukraine.

The ongoing migrant crisis has reshaped France’s northern coast, especially Boulogne. French rescue workers and officials are witnessing a tragic pattern of migrants fleeing death only to perish in dangerous Channel crossings. While both France and the UK condemn smuggling gangs, their responses differ. British authorities emphasise the criminality of smugglers, but French officials and citizens focus on the migrants’ motives, blaming the UK's loosely-regulated job market as a magnet for desperate people. The smugglers continue to adapt, launching boats from inland and resorting to violence. The French feel burdened by a crisis they see as Britain’s responsibility. Despite its significance, the issue gets less media coverage in France due to its own political challenges. Interior minister Gerald Darmanin continues to call for a new treaty between the UK and the EU; efforts against smugglers alone will not suffice to solve the issue.

The French left is facing internal divisions once again, this time sparked by Jean-Luc Mélenchon's call to impeach President Emmanuel Macron. Mélenchon and his allies in the France Unbowed movement are pressuring Macron to appoint Lucie Castets as prime minister, threatening impeachment if he refuses. This has highlighted the fragility of the New Popular Front alliance, which includes Socialists, Greens, and Communists, and undermines the unity they displayed in recent snap elections. While the impeachment threat is unlikely to succeed (it requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament), it has exposed significant fractures within the left-wing coalition. All the other parties, including Castets’ supporters, were quick to distance themselves from the idea. This discord is seen as advantageous for Macron's camp, as it weakens the opposition.