PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Diya TV) — Police in northwestern Pakistan have arrested a man accused of holding his wife and five children captive in their home and abusing them for more than a decade, authorities said.
The case came to light after one of the couple’s sons secretly left the family home and contacted the police. Soon afterward, officers raided the property in the remote town of Bara in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and rescued the family.
Police said they found 54-year-old Sylvie Yasmina, a French national, and her children living in harsh conditions. Authorities reported that the family stayed in a small and severely damaged room. Officers also found bruises on their bodies, raising concerns about long-term physical abuse.
The arrest has drawn attention across Pakistan and abroad. In addition, the case has highlighted concerns about domestic violence, child welfare, and family isolation.
According to police, Yasmina claimed her husband subjected the family to physical and mental abuse for years. She described him as violent and said he controlled nearly every aspect of their lives.
Authorities have not publicly identified the suspect. However, police said he is a Pakistani national who lived illegally in Australia when he met Yasmina.
The couple married in 2003 and later lived in Australia. In 2014, they moved to Pakistan with their two older children. Yasmina told investigators that her husband effectively cut the family off from the outside world after the move.
Police said Yasmina reported that she could not meet other people or communicate freely. As a result, the family lived in isolation for years.
Furthermore, authorities said the couple’s two older children missed their education. Meanwhile, the three younger children were born in Pakistan and never attended school.
Yasmina described years of fear and hardship in a statement provided to police. Parts of that statement later appeared in local media reports.
“We were deprived of freedom,” she wrote. She also said her husband failed to care for the family and regularly used violence against them.
In her statement, Yasmina expressed concern for her children’s future. She said she feared their lives would suffer if the situation continued.
“I felt that my future was already ruined, the future of the children would also be ruined,” she said.
Police officials said the family now remains at a women’s shelter in Peshawar, where they are receiving support and protection. At the same time, authorities are helping them prepare for a return to France.
The rescue followed a police operation that began after the son’s report. Investigators said his decision to seek help played a key role in ending the family’s isolation.
The case has shocked many people because of the length of the alleged abuse. It has also raised questions about how families living in remote areas can become disconnected from public services and support systems.
Domestic violence remains a serious issue in many parts of the world. Experts often stress the importance of community awareness and access to support services for victims. In this case, police intervention finally brought the family to safety after years of alleged mistreatment.
Authorities continue to investigate the allegations. Meanwhile, the suspect remains in police custody as legal proceedings move forward.
The case has attracted widespread attention in Pakistan and France. As investigators gather more evidence, officials say their priority remains the safety and well-being of Yasmina and her children.
For now, the family has left the home where they spent years in isolation. Their planned return to France marks the beginning of a new chapter after what police describe as a decade of suffering and abuse.
