Rallies broke out across France in support of Giselle Pelico, whose husband hired strangers to rape her

Hundreds of people, mostly women, rallied in cities across France on Saturday in support of Gisele Pelico, whose husband is being investigated on charges that he drugged her and hired dozens of strangers to rape her in a case that has shocked the country, Reuters reported.

Feminist associations called for about 30 gatherings in cities from Marseille to Paris, where posters reading “Support Gisele” and “Victims, we believe you” were displayed in Place de la Republique. Since Pelico’s trial began earlier this month, her extraordinary story has traveled across France, and now 72, she has become a symbol of France’s fight against sexual violence.

Her lawyers say it was her decision to forgo a private trial and instead push for a public trial, which is due to run until December, to warn the public about sexual violence and drug-induced blackouts.