The parents of a 16-year-old girl have been arrested inValencia, accused of attempting to force her into an arranged marriage inPakistan. Spain's national police have detained a man, 50, and a woman, 44, on human trafficking charges in relation to aforced marriage.
According to reports, the couple are accused of keeping their teenage daughter in completeisolationoutside of school. It is claimed she was forbidden to interact with anyone, and her mobile phone had been taken away. It is also claimed she was closely monitored and even subjected to horrificassaults. According to thePoliciaNacional, the 16-year-old was in a situation of extreme vulnerability. Investigations were launched after officials at her school alerted authorities to their concerns.
According toThe Olive Press, investigations began after school officials told the police that the teenager was due to be sent back to Pakistan against her will to marry a man chosen by her parents. It is reported that the girl told a teacher about her situation on April 22, and that police later confirmed her account.
The parents were then arrested and brought before a judge two days later. The couple were granted bail, but has also been slapped with a distancing order.
The minor is now under the protection ofSocial Services.
Following the arrest, Spanish police have urged teenagers not to remain silent and to report any episodes of abuse or coercion. They added that young people can always ask their teachers for help to ensure their safety.
Arranged marriages in Pakistan continue to be a common cultural practice, in which families, often with the help of matchmakers, select spouses for their children based on compatibility, social status and family values.
As of 2026,marriages under 16are legally prohibited throughout Pakistan, with the minimum marriage age raised to 18 for both sexes in several regions, including Sindh, Balochistan and the Islamabad Capital Territory. In May 2025, Pakistan's Parliament passed the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Act, setting the minimum legal age of marriage at 18 for both boys and girls.
However, despite both federal and provincial laws,child marriagepersists due to cultural norms, with nearly 19 million child brides reported in recent studies. One in six young women in Pakistan is married in childhood. Approximately 18% of Pakistani young women are married before turning 18, while 4% are married before 15.
Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
