Woman rescued from forced marriage in Pakistan, two men arrested in Spain

A woman from Spain has been rescued from an alleged forced marriage in Pakistan, and two men were arrested in Barcelona on suspicion of human trafficking, according to regional police. The woman had traveled to Pakistan in September 2025, following an alleged promise from a relative that her family had dropped its opposition to her relationship with a Pakistani man who owns a computer shop in Barcelona.

Upon arrival, her Spanish passport was reportedly confiscated, she was confined to a family home, and she was forced into marriage with a cousin against her will. Her partner reported her disappearance to the police in April, stating she had been forcibly taken to Pakistan by family members. Spanish police, collaborating with Spain's embassy in Pakistan, successfully located the woman and facilitated her return to Spain.

She received specialized support upon her return. The investigation into the case is ongoing, with authorities working to identify all individuals involved in the forced marriage and the assault on her partner. Barcelona is home to over 26,000 Pakistani nationals, making it the third-largest foreign nationality group in the city after Italians and Colombians.