French Woman Rescued In Pakistan After 12-Year Captivity By Husband

A French woman, identified as Sylvie Yasmina, and her five children have been rescued by police in Bara, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, following allegations that she was held captive by her husband for over a decade. The woman, aged 54, reported that she and her children lived in a dilapidated, cramped room and were subjected to daily physical and mental abuse since moving to Pakistan from Australia in 2014. The rescue was initiated after one of the couple's sons managed to escape to alert local authorities.

According to reports, Yasmina married her Pakistani husband in 2003 and they resided in Australia until their relocation. Once in Pakistan, the husband reportedly cut off all communication with the outside world, preventing the children from attending school and restricting the family’s freedom entirely. The authorities confirmed that the family was found with signs of physical trauma, and they are currently being cared for in a secure women's shelter in Peshawar while arrangements are made for their return to France.

The incident has highlighted significant security and human rights concerns within remote areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Police are continuing their investigation into the husband, who was allegedly residing illegally in Australia before the move. This case underscores the broader challenges in protecting vulnerable individuals in isolated regions and is likely to prompt diplomatic communication between French and Pakistani authorities to ensure the family's safe repatriation.