BARA — Pakistan police rescued 54-year-old Sylvie Yasmina, a French woman, and her five children from a mud-brick home in Bara on June 24, 2026. Yasmina alleged she had been held captive and subjected to domestic abuse by her husband for over a decade.

Authorities arrested Yasmina's husband, Ahmad Khan, following the rescue. Yasmina reported in her initial statement that her husband physically and psychologically abused her. She told investigators she had been unable to live freely since moving to Pakistan in 2014 and claimed she had not communicated with the outside world since that time. One of Yasmina's sons left the house and reached a local police station to report the situation, prompting the rescue operation.

Police found Yasmina and her children in a dilapidated room. She had visible signs of injuries on her face, and police also found bruises on the bodies of Yasmina and her children. Yasmina's children were never enrolled in school. "He beats us and put pressure on our lives on a daily basis," Yasmina stated in her account to police. In a video recorded by police, Yasmina spoke in a mix of English and Pashto. "I thank the officers for rescuing us and I wish to return to France," Yasmina said.

Yasmina and her husband married in 2003 and lived in Australia until 2014. They moved to Pakistan with their two older children in 2014. After the rescue, Yasmina and her children were transferred to a women's police station for protection. Authorities are coordinating with the French embassy regarding Yasmina's repatriation, as she expressed a desire to return to France. Investigations into the case are underway. Shabina Ayaz, director of the rights group Aurat Foundation, commented on the situation. "This case should serve as a wake-up call for authorities and society," Ayaz said.