Spanish Woman Rescued from Forced Marriage in Pakistan, Returns Home

Spanish authorities rescued a woman who was allegedly tricked into traveling to Pakistan in September 2025 and forced into marriage with a cousin, then returned her to Spain. The woman said a relative told her her family had dropped its opposition to her relationship with a Pakistani national who runs a computer shop in Barcelona, prompting the trip. Once in Pakistan, relatives allegedly took her Spanish passport, confined her to a family home and arranged the marriage despite her objections. Her partner reported the abduction to police in April and had previously been attacked with a bladed weapon in Barcelona by two men linked to the case. Working with Spain’s embassy in Pakistan, police located her and organized her rescue and return. She received specialist support after arriving back in Spain, and the investigation remains open to identify all those involved in the alleged forced marriage and the attack on her partner. Barcelona hosts over 26,000 Pakistani nationals, the city’s third‑largest foreign community after Italians and Colombians.

For Nigerians traveling or living abroad, this case highlights the need to keep travel documents secure, maintain regular contact with trusted contacts, and know how to reach your embassy if you feel threatened or coerced. Would you keep a copy of your passport with a trusted friend overseas, or know the emergency hotline for Nigeria’s mission in your host country?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/09/26/woman-rescued-from-forced-marriage-in-pakistan/