Michaele Salahi Has Been Kidnapped ... Husband Claims

"Real Housewives of D.C." star Tareq Salahi believes his wife Michaele Salahi was abducted in Virginia yesterday ... but he's afraid the cops aren't taking the situation seriously ... TMZ has learned.

TMZ just spoke with Tareq ... who tells us he last saw Michaele at their home around 11 AM ET yesterday ... right before he left to go to their winery. Tareq says Michaele told him she was going to get her hair done -- but she never went to the appointment ... and she's been missing ever since.

Tareq claims he got a phone call from Michaele late last night ... from an unfamiliar Oregon cell phone number ... and she told him she was going to her mother's house, located minutes away from the Salahi home.

Tareq says he was suspicious -- so he called Michaele's mother ... who told him she hadn't spoken with Michaele and was unaware of her plans. That's when Tareq -- fearing Michaele had been abducted -- called the Warren County Sheriff's Dept. for help.

But Tareq claims deputies told him she had already called them -- informing them she was OK and just dealing with some "family issues."

Tareq tells TMZ ... he believes Michaele had been FORCED to make the phone calls by her abductor ... and believes she is in very real danger ... especially because the Salahis have received death threats in the past.

Tareq says he's considering going to other law enforcement for help because he feels the Warren County Sheriffs are not taking proper action. A rep for the WCSD tells TMZ cops are not releasing any info about the situation at this time.

Tareq has issued a statement saying, "We are reaching to the public pleaing [sic] desperately for your help."

He continues, "It is our belief as of last night, that Michaele Salahi may have been kidnapped or abducted and being held under duress and forced to tell persons, including authorities she is okay."

"We are asking the public to please be on the look out for her, and if found please contact the authorities and please approach her and contact the authorities to intervene and that she may be forced to say she is okay, when in fact she is not and being held under possible abduction.

The Salahi family can be reached at 540-635-9933."