A court in the western German city of Aachen sentenced Fernando, a 61-year-old janitor, on 19/12. German privacy laws protect his identity.

The court stated that Fernando repeatedly drugged his wife with sedatives to sexually assault her at their home. He filmed these crimes and then distributed the videos in chat groups and on internet platforms without the victim's consent.

According to reports, Fernando used platforms like Telegram to share the content with many other users.

Fernando was convicted of rape, aggravated sexual assault, causing dangerous bodily harm, and violating privacy.

Fernando committed these assaults for nearly 15 years, but the court only convicted him for crimes that occurred between 2018 and 2024.

Fernando P. covers his face at the sentencing hearing on 19/12. Photo: *AFP*

This is the first case of its kind to be tried in a German court. Activists consider it significant in changing the legal definition of rape.

In Germany, consent has traditionally been defined by the "No means No" principle. Activists argue that this principle deprives victims of sexual abuse—especially those who have been drugged, as in the Aachen case—of the ability to give clear consent to sexual acts.

The Nur Ja Heisst Ja organization is campaigning for the German government to change the definition of rape to include the "Yes means Yes" standard. They argue that current law still places the burden on victims to verbally resist rape and other acts of sexual violence.

According to activists, the Aachen case also highlights another important issue: The possession of rape content remains legal in Germany. Kathrin Wahlmann, head of Lower Saxony's justice department, has launched a statewide campaign to criminalize such possession.

The Aachen case is reminiscent of the horrific sexual abuse committed by Dominique Pelicot in France. A year ago, Dominique's wife, Gisele Pelicot, 73, courageously accused her husband of drugging her and inviting dozens of strange men to their home to rape her while she was unconscious over a 10-year period.

Dominique was sentenced to 20 years in prison, and 49 other men were also jailed for rape or sexual assault. The landmark trial exposed a vast network of men recruited online and a massive archive of videos and images documenting hundreds of assaults.

The Pelicot case shocked the world, prompting French society to re-examine the issues of gender-based violence and misogyny in the country.

Tue Anh (according to CNN, The Sun)