MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) 鈥� A group of Australian admirers said Friday they're moved that the victim in France鈥檚 notorious drugging-and-rape case has acknowledged her distant supporters Down Under by wearing a scarf adorned with Aboriginal art.
The 72-year-old who refused to remain an anonymous victim wore the silk scarf several times during the trial in Avignon, including when 51 men were convicted and sentenced to prison for molesting her after she had been drugged by her former husband, Dominique Pelicot.
Thursday's ruling made headlines around the world, prompting reactions from thousands of individuals and political leaders alike who praised her bravery and the awareness raised by her trial of sexual violence against women.
鈥淪hame must change sides. Thank you, Gis猫le Pelicot!鈥� German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on social platform X. 鈥淵ou courageously came out of anonymity and went public and battled for justice. You gave women worldwide a strong voice. The disgrace is always the perpetrator鈥檚.鈥�
鈥淭oo often, victims of sexualized violence are not believed or even given a share of the blame,鈥� German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser wrote on X. 鈥淕is猫le Pelicot encouraged a lot of people to fight back and to report the violence 鈥� what an admirable woman! It is not the victims but the perpetrators who should be ashamed.鈥�
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised Pelicot's 鈥渄ignity.鈥�
The story dominated the news in Britain, with Pelicot鈥檚 photo splashed across news websites and newspaper front pages, with headlines hailing her courage and strength.
鈥淲orld鈥檚 Bravest Woman,鈥� the Daily Mirror cover proclaimed.
The story took up all of the Guardian鈥檚 front page beneath the masthead and continued on several pages inside.
The Daily Mail devoted seven pages to the court case, and columnist Sarah Vine declared Pelicot woman of the year. 鈥淔or courageously taking down her scumbag husband, she deserves everyone鈥檚 respect,鈥� the headline said.
The scarf that Pelicot donned was a 220 Australian dollar ($137) gift from a Sydney-based rights advocacy group, the Older Women鈥檚 Network, its chief executive Yumi Lee said.
鈥淲e were astounded, absolutely gobsmacked, honored that she accepted our gesture of solidarity,鈥� Lee said.
Lee, 59, said her group, which has 1,000 members across New South Wales state and campaigns on issues including sexual violence, raised donations to buy the scarf in September when the court case was already underway.
Members decided on the gesture because Avignon, 17,000 kilometers (11,000 miles) from Sydney, was too distant for most to travel to demonstrate their support in person, Lee said.
Pelicot "has said that shame has to change sides and she wants all the victims of sexual assault to think that if she can do it, they can too,鈥� Lee said.
鈥淪he has also proven that sexual assault knows no barriers. Everyone from young to old are victims of sexual assault. So she鈥檚 busted that myth,鈥� Lee added.
Lee said she was surprised that Pelicot鈥檚 lawyer wrote to her group to acknowledge receipt of the scarf.
鈥淗er lawyer wrote to us to say she has received it and was interested in the fact that it鈥檚 a First Nations design," Lee said.
The scarf is a reproduction of the art of Indigenous painter Mulyatingki Marney. It depicts a cluster of saltwater pools, known for their healing properties, on Marney鈥檚 traditional land, the retailer One of Twelve said on its website.
The Canberra-based business showcases art from the Asia-Pacific region and pays the artists royalties from the sale of scarves and ties, as well as woven bags from Papua New Guinea called bilums.
鈥淲e picked this design because, number one, it鈥檚 beautiful, it鈥檚 got lovely colors, it鈥檚 drawn by a First Nations, older woman and it鈥檚 a story about healing,鈥� Lee said.
One of Twelve owner Anna Saboisky said the attention Pelicot had brought to their scarf had overwhelmed the tiny business.
A second print run of scarves had almost sold out and a third was on its way, she said.
鈥淪ince I woke up this morning, I鈥檝e had about 20 orders placed online,鈥� Saboisky said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e just a small business. It鈥檚 completely unprecedented to have so much interest in one scarf."
Lee said if Avignon had not been so far away, 鈥渨e would be there shouting.鈥�
鈥斺赌�
This story has been corrected to give Gis猫le Pelicot's age as 72.
Rod Mcguirk, The Associated Press
