A French judge has made a decision to limit the public display of videos showing the alleged rape of Gisele Pelicot, a 71-year-old woman at the center of a high-profile sexual violence case in France. The judge ruled on Friday that the videos could be shown at the request of the prosecution or defense but not routinely due to their disturbing nature. Gisele Pelicot had expressed her desire for the footage to be shown without any restrictions, advocating for a public trial in her fight against sexual violence.

The trial involves Gisele Pelicot's ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, and 49 other men who are facing charges related to an alleged decade-long mass rape case. Despite Mrs. Pelicot's insistence on the public nature of the trial and her willingness to watch the videos, the presiding judge, Roger Arata, deemed the images as "obscene and shocking." As a result, the judge decided against presenting the videos systematically during the trial and prohibited their display in the presence of media or the public.

The court's ruling follows the showcasing of some photos and videos in the trial, without public attendance but with journalists present. The footage depicted Dominique Pelicot and another defendant engaging in sexual acts with Gisele Pelicot while she appeared unconscious. Prosecutor Jean-Francois Mayer argued for the exhibition of thousands of pictures and videos archived by Dominique Pelicot, emphasizing the crucial role of this evidence in proceeding with the trial. Gisele Pelicot's legal representatives supported this request, underscoring the importance of confronting the reality of rape in society.