A woman who was reportedly tricked into traveling to Pakistan and coerced into marrying a cousin has been rescued and brought back to Spain. On July 21, two men aged 41 and 45 were detained at Barcelona airport on suspicion of human trafficking related to forced marriage, Catalonia’s regional police.
The woman had traveled to Pakistan in September 2025 after a relative falsely informed her that her family had accepted her relationship with a Pakistani man who owns a computer shop in Barcelona. However, upon arrival, her relatives allegedly confiscated her Spanish passport, confined her to a family residence, and arranged her marriage to a cousin against her will.
Her partner alerted authorities in April that she had been forcibly taken to Pakistan by family members. Prior to this, he was reportedly attacked in Barcelona by two men believed to be connected to the case, using a bladed weapon. Spanish police collaborated with the Spanish embassy in Pakistan to locate the woman, facilitating her rescue and safe return to Spain.
After her return, she received specialized support. The investigation is ongoing as authorities continue to identify all individuals involved in the forced marriage and the assault on her partner.
Barcelona hosts a significant Pakistani community, with over 26,000 Pakistani nationals registered, making them the third-largest foreign nationality group in the city after Italians and Colombians.
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