STORY: Gisele Pelicot, the French woman who was drugged and raped by dozens of men recruited by her husband, took the stand on Wednesday in a case that has shocked the world.

“These men are degenerates,” she told the court after attempts by some defense lawyers to question her credibility caused outrage in the courtroom.

Dominique Pelicot and 50 other men stand accused of drugging and raping Gisele over nearly a decade including recording and disseminating sexual images.

The case has also triggered protests across France in support of Gisele, who has become a symbol of the fight against sexual violence.

On Tuesday, Dominique admitted to orchestrating the mass rape of his then-wife, saying “I am a rapist,” before asking for forgiveness and expressing hope to ultimately win back his former partner.

Gisele Pelicot insisted on a public trial in an attempt to expose her former husband and the other men.

Her lawyer Stephane Babonneau said on Wednesday that Pelicot’s desire for a public trial was “a challenge, but it was a challenge that’s as important as the stakes.”