Two sisters from Terrassa were murdered in Pakistan after years of alleged abuse. Their father and brothers now face trial in Spain for forced marriage and mistreatment. The case exposes deep family fractures and legal gaps.
The Abbas family from Terrassa is at the center of a judicial process after two sisters, Arooj and Aneesa, were murdered in Pakistan in what authorities describe as an 'honor crime.' Spanish prosecutors are seeking 14 years in prison for the father, Ghulam Abbas, who is accused of subjecting his daughters to strict control, repeated abuse, and forced confinement at home. The case has drawn attention to the challenges of addressing forced marriage and domestic violence within migrant communities in Spain.
According to the investigation, the sisters' only respite from their restrictive home life was occasional work at the family supermarket, where their father kept a close watch. At home, the control was even tighter, with the girls reportedly locked in when left alone, aided by their brothers. The prosecution alleges a pattern of habitual mistreatment and coercion, with the sisters' autonomy severely limited.
In 2022, Arooj and Aneesa were lured to their native village in Gujrat, Pakistan, under the pretense that their mother was ill. Once there, they were killed by six close relatives, including two of their brothers, Shehryar and Asfandyar, allegedly with the knowledge of their father. The sisters had previously been forced to marry cousins against their will and refused to help their husbands obtain legal residency in Spain, which investigators believe was a motive for the crime.
The Pakistani justice system initially promised a strong response, but all accused were acquitted after the parents forgave the perpetrators, a legal practice permitted in Pakistan. The Spanish courts, however, continue to pursue charges against Ghulam Abbas and his sons for forced marriage, habitual abuse, and coercion. The brothers face requests for 14 and 8 years in prison, respectively, but cannot be tried in Spain for the murders, as the killings occurred abroad and have already been adjudicated in Pakistan.
After the murders, the Abbas family left Terrassa and relocated to Vinaròs, Castellón. The family dynamic remains complex: the mother, Mirza Salman, who reportedly witnessed the killings, returned to Spain and briefly stayed in a shelter before rejoining her husband. Both sons, after being released in Pakistan, also returned to Spain. One of them, Asfandyar, has since become a social media influencer with a large following on TikTok.
The case has highlighted the difficulties Spanish authorities face when dealing with crimes that cross borders and involve different legal systems. Forced marriage remains a challenge in some migrant communities, and the legal loopholes between countries can leave victims without justice. The Abbas case is not the only instance where family tragedy has intersected with legal complexity in Spain; for example, police in Benidorm recently traced relatives after finding a funeral urn in a supermarket locker, as reported in a related incident involving family and legal procedures.
Spain has taken steps in recent years to strengthen protections against forced marriage and domestic violence, but enforcement remains difficult when crimes occur abroad or involve cultural practices not recognized by Spanish law. The Abbas trial is expected to test the limits of Spanish jurisdiction and the ability of the justice system to respond to transnational family violence. The outcome may influence future cases involving similar cross-border crimes and highlight the need for closer cooperation between Spanish and foreign authorities.
