A French woman named Sylvie Yasmina and her five children were rescued in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after enduring over a decade of captivity and abuse by her husband. The husband, described as “very violent” by Yasmina, physically and mentally assaulted them daily. Their ordeal came to light when one of their sons escaped, prompting a police raid on their home in Bara, where they were found in a cramped and dilapidated room with injuries all over their bodies.
Yasmina revealed that they had been effectively imprisoned since moving from Australia to Pakistan in 2014. The family, including two children born in Pakistan, had been isolated, with the older children missing out on education. Authorities have not disclosed the husband’s identity but mentioned that he was a Pakistani national who was living in Australia illegally when they met. The family had moved to Pakistan in 2014, cutting off all contact with the outside world.
Recent statistics from the Police Women and Child Protection Cell in Karachi highlighted a concerning trend of domestic violence and abuse in Pakistan. From January to April, 388 adults and 10 minors reported facing various forms of abuse in Karachi. The report emphasized the prevalence of domestic violence, with 297 complaints received during the period. While 190 cases were resolved, nearly 100 remain pending, indicating delays in providing justice to victims. The authorities also registered three formal cases related to domestic violence incidents.
