A woman who was allegedly deceived into travelling to Pakistan and then forced to marry a cousin has been rescued and returned to Spain, according to Spanish police.
Two men, aged 41 and 45, were arrested at Barcelona airport on July 21 on suspicion of human trafficking for the purpose of forced marriage, Catalonia’s regional police said in a statement.
Woman allegedly deceived into travelling to Pakistan
According to police, the woman travelled to Pakistan in September 2025 after a relative allegedly told her that her family had changed its position and would accept her relationship with a Pakistani national who owns a computer shop in Barcelona.
However, after she arrived in Pakistan, her relatives allegedly confiscated her Spanish passport and confined her to a family home.
Police said the family then arranged her marriage to a cousin despite her opposition.
The woman’s partner reported the matter to Spanish police in April, saying she had been forcibly taken to Pakistan by members of her family.
He had previously been attacked with a bladed weapon in Barcelona by two men allegedly linked to the case, according to investigators.
Embassy assists in rescue
Spanish police subsequently worked with Spain’s embassy in Pakistan to locate the woman and arrange her rescue and return to Spain.
After returning, she was provided with specialist support, police said.
The two suspects were arrested at Barcelona airport in July as part of the investigation into the alleged forced marriage and human trafficking.
The investigation remains ongoing, with police working to identify all people allegedly involved in the woman’s forced marriage and the attack on her partner.
Pakistani community in Barcelona
Barcelona has a sizeable Pakistani community, with more than 26,000 Pakistani nationals registered in the city, according to the report.
Pakistani nationals are reportedly the third-largest foreign nationality group in Barcelona, behind Italians and Colombians.
The case highlights the cross-border nature of investigations involving alleged forced marriage and human trafficking, requiring cooperation between Spanish authorities and diplomatic officials in Pakistan.
