Family arrested for abuse of foreign bride

18 May 2006

AMSTERDAM — Five members of a family are in custody for allegedly holding a 22-year-old woman prisoner for a year of rape and assault, police revealed on Thursday.

A 24-year-old female suspect has been released. She was arrested on 1 May along with four men, aged 54, 25, 21 and 18, and a woman, aged 49.

The alleged victim came to the Netherlands in January 2005 after marrying the 25-year-old man. The police did not reveal her country of origin.

The couple moved in with the man’s family in Rotterdam. Her life was turned into a living hell for the next year, according to her account. Her husband repeatedly raped her and she was regularly assaulted by other family members.

The woman was not allowed to have any contact with the outside world and was forced to do all the household chores on her own. She was only allowed to leave the home accompanied by her husband to deal with formal tasks requiring her signature.

She was sent back to her own family in March 2006. She was no longer welcome there either and she returned to the Netherlands. She received a telephone number for a person who could help her and this Rotterdammer contacted the police. The alleged victim made a statement and was placed in a safe house.

Subject: Dutch news