Father Chains 12-Year-Old Girl Inside An Abandoned House For 3 Years; Police Rescue Child

A 12-year-old girl in Egypt was rescued after being found chained inside an abandoned house for three years.

The police said the girl's father tied her up to a bed inside the dilapidated house to separate her from her mother, post the couple's divorce.

The shocking incident of abuse happened in Dakahlia Governorate of Cairo, Gulf News reported. Officers rescued the girl after raiding the house following a tip-off from two men who broke into the abandoned house. It was unclear when the rescue operation happened.

The house, in which the girl was held, reportedly had two rooms, including a small, dark and narrow one. The girl was found there chained to a bed. Worn-out utensils were seen strewn around in the room.

A small ladder was seen between the rooms that led to the roof of the house. The father had closed the opening on the roof with wood and heavy stones, reported Al Arabiya. Neighbors said though they did hear continuous screams and wails from the house, they assumed the house was "haunted."

The incident only came to light after two local men decided to enter the house from the rooftop. On breaking in, they were shocked to find the emaciated girl tied up to the bed. There was no food near her at that time.

They alerted the police, who rushed to the spot. The girl was moved to a hospital, and the father was arrested and referred to public prosecution for legal action. He reportedly denied torturing the girl, and said he tied her up "out of concern for his daughter and a desire to keep her next to him."

Meanwhile, the girl, who was now recovering, told Al Arabiya all she wanted was to "live as an ordinary child playing with her peers, seeing the light and the street." Her speech was reportedly slurred due to a prolonged period of non-interaction.

The report also quoted the girl's mother, who said the father had informed her that her daughter was fine and was living with his relatives. She demanded her daughter, who suffered physically and psychologically, get justice.