A 19-year-old girl was kept in chains and beaten by her parents and one of her brothers for having a romantic relationship, Israel Police revealed on Thursday afternoon.
On July 30, a civilian called the police to report that a beaten, barefoot girl ran into the street in front of his car, claiming she escaped her home.
Upon initial investigation at the hospital, the girl testified that she was hit by her family using a bat, steel rod, and electrical wires when they discovered she was in a relationship with a boy from the south of Israel.
She described that she was then chained by them to prevent her from leaving the home, said the police in a statement. The victim claims she seized an opportunity when her family left the premises in order to escape, fearing that they would kill her.
After taking the girl in for treatment for her wounds at the hospital, the police arrived at an encampment in the Ben Shemen Forest where the family resides in order to arrest the suspects and managed to detain her parents (46 and 50 years old) and one of her brothers.
Other siblings who were involved in the abuse escaped the premises, but forces managed to locate them several days later, the Police Spokesperson Unit said.
The five suspects — parents and three siblings aged 18, 21 and 22 — are currently held in custody. The police intend to press criminal charges and request that the suspects remain in custody until trial.