The teenager's parents have been arrested for attempting to force her into an arranged marriage in Pakistan.

13:31, Mon, May 11, 2026 Updated: 13:36, Mon, May 11, 2026

Sad and worried bride crying and arguing with groom in wedding day

The teenager's parents have been arrested for attempting to force her into an arranged marriage (Image: Getty)

The parents of a 16-year-old girl have been arrested in Valencia, accused of attempting to force her into an arranged marriage in Pakistan. Spain's national police have detained a man, 50, and a woman, 44, on human trafficking charges in relation to a forced marriage.

According to reports, the couple are accused of keeping their teenage daughter in complete isolation outside 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 horrific assaults. According to the Policia Nacional, the 16-year-old was in a situation of extreme vulnerability. Investigations were launched after officials at her school alerted authorities to their concerns.

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Bride, Flowers

The 16-year-old told a teacher she was due to be sent to Pakistan against her will (Image: Getty)

According to The 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 of Social Services.

Justice in Pakistan

Child marriages are legally prohibited throughout Pakistan but persist due to cultural norms (Image: Getty)

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 16 are 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 marriage persists 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.