Pakistani police have arrested a man accused of holding his French wife and their five children captive inside their home for more than 12 years in the remote town of Bara, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The rescue operation was carried out after one of the couple’s sons managed to secretly leave the house and report the alleged abuse to the police.
According to police, the woman, identified as 54-year-old Sylvie Yasmina, told investigators that her husband had subjected her and their children to daily physical and mental abuse. She described him as extremely violent and claimed that the family had been isolated from the outside world since moving from Australia to Pakistan in 2014.
During the raid, police found Yasmina and her five children living in a small, severely neglected room. Officers reported that all family members had visible bruises and appeared to have suffered from prolonged mistreatment. Yasmina also said she was not allowed to meet anyone during the past 12 years.
Police further stated that the family’s two eldest children were unable to continue their education due to their isolation, while the three younger children, who were born in Pakistan, had never been enrolled in school. Authorities described the conditions inside the home as deeply concerning.
Following the rescue, Yasmina and her children were transferred to a women’s shelter in Peshawar, where they are receiving protection and support. According to police, the family is now preparing to return to France, while legal proceedings against the arrested suspect are underway.
