French woman, five children rescued in Pakistan's Khyber district after ‘years of abuse’

Police in Pakistan's Khyber district rescued a French woman and her five children on Monday after allegedly enduring years of domestic abuse and confinement by her Pakistani husband. The rescue took place in Bara, Khyber district, after authorities received a complaint on June 18 that a foreign woman was being abused inside a residence.

What happened to the French woman rescued in Pakistan's Khyber district?

Police raided a home in Bara after receiving a complaint on June 18 about a foreign woman allegedly being held against her will and subjected to abuse. Officers removed 54-year-old French national Sylvie Yasmina and her five children and transferred them to a women's police station in Peshawar. The French Embassy and Foreign Office have been officially notified of the situation.

Who is Sylvie Yasmina and how long was she in Pakistan?

According to District Police Officer Waqar Khan, Yasmina married a Pakistani citizen in 2004 in Australia before the couple relocated to Europe, where they lived for eight years. Their first three children were born in Europe before the family moved to Pakistan, where two more children were born.

Capital City Police Officer Dr. Mian Saeed confirmed the family was placed in protective custody to ensure their safety and facilitate legal proceedings. Authorities said Yasmina and her children have expressed a desire to return to France.

"The woman and her five children have been rescued and taken into protective custody and transferred to a women's police station to ensure their safety and facilitate legal proceedings," Saeed said.

What charges have been filed against the husband?

Police registered a First Information Report against Yasmina's husband under relevant provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code and domestic violence laws. Authorities said efforts are underway to locate and arrest the suspect. The case remains under investigation, and officials said legal proceedings must be completed before any repatriation arrangements can be finalized.

In a video statement released by police, Yasmina and her children thanked authorities for rescuing them, saying they had endured extremely difficult circumstances. The family expressed gratitude to officers for ensuring their safety and helping them recover from the alleged abuse and confinement.