Joint Operation Secures Rescue
A joint investigation by Catalonia's regional police, the Mossos d'Esquadra, and Spain's National Police in Barcelona has led to the rescue of a woman from Pakistan who was allegedly coerced into a forced marriage. The operation concluded successfully following coordination with the Spanish Embassy in Islamabad, which enabled local authorities to locate and recover the victim. The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, is believed to have been taken to Pakistan under false pretences by members of her family in mid-2025. According to investigators, she had her Spanish passport seized upon arrival and was subsequently pressured into marrying a cousin against her will.
Two Men Arrested in Barcelona
On 21 July 2026, two men, aged 41 and 45, were detained in Barcelona on suspicion of human trafficking for the purpose of forced marriage. They are also under investigation for an alleged attempted homicide in December 2025, when the woman’s romantic partner, a Pakistani-origin man who ran a computer shop in Barcelona, was attacked with a bladed weapon. The attack survivor reported that his girlfriend had been forcibly taken to Pakistan shortly after their religious union in June 2025, which reportedly angered her family. Investigators state that the family had exerted ongoing pressure and threats to end the relationship.
The coordination between Spanish law enforcement and diplomatic officials in Pakistan was crucial to securing the woman’s release.
The case highlights the cross-border nature of gender-based violence and the institutional efforts to combat forced marriages involving Spanish residents abroad. The Mossos d'Esquadra’s involvement reflects ongoing work within EU-funded projects addressing human trafficking, including psychological impacts on victims and stakeholder responses.
Primary sources: dsp.interior.gencat.cat. Reported by notimerica.com, lavanguardia.com, Europa Press Barcelona.
