French National and Five Children Rescued After 12 Years of Captivity in Pakistan
A shocking case of prolonged domestic abuse and unlawful confinement has come to light in Pakistan, where a 54-year-old French woman and her five children were rescued after being held captive by her husband for over a decade.
The dramatic rescue unfolded in the remote town of Bara, located in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, after one of the couple’s sons managed to escape the heavily guarded home and alert local authorities.
The Raid and Rescue
Upon receiving the son’s desperate report, local police launched a swift raid on the compound. Inside, officers discovered a scene of severe neglect and cruelty.
The mother, identified as Sylvie Yasmina, a French national, along with her five children, was found locked inside a cramped, dilapidated room. Police reports indicate that all victims bore visible marks of physical abuse, suffering from both deep psychological trauma and severe malnutrition.
A Decade of Isolation and Terror
The harrowing ordeal began years before the family arrived in Pakistan. According to police statements:
The Marriage: Ms. Yasmina met her husband, a Pakistani national, in Australia, where he was residing without legal status. The couple married in 2003.
The Move to Pakistan: In 2014, the family relocated to Pakistan along with their two eldest children.
The Captivity: Immediately upon their arrival, the husband confiscated their passports and identification documents. For 12 years, he effectively cut them off from the outside world, subjecting them to daily physical and emotional violence.
”We were kept like prisoners,” Ms. Yasmina told local authorities. “We were not allowed to step outside, speak to anyone, or even look out the window. The violence was a daily reality.”
Children Deprived of a Future
The confinement took a devastating toll on the children’s development and education. The two eldest children, who had started their schooling abroad, were forced to drop out. Meanwhile, the three youngest children—all born during the period of captivity in Pakistan—were completely hidden from society and never allowed to enroll in school or receive medical care.
Current Status and Next Steps
Following the rescue, the suspect was arrested and is currently in police custody, facing multiple charges related to illegal confinement, domestic abuse, and assault.
Ms. Yasmina and her five children have been moved to a secure women’s shelter in Peshawar, where they are receiving medical treatment and psychological support. The French embassy has been notified, and local authorities confirmed that arrangements are being made to safely repatriate the family back to France.
