Goli Kauhkan, an Iranian child bride, married off when she was just 12 years old and impregnated at 13 awaits execution for the murder of her husband. 

 In May 2018 Goli Kauhkan was arrested for the murder of her husband and has been on death row in a northern Iranian prison for the past 7 years since her conviction. Under Iranian law the family of the victim can demand compensation in the form of money often referred to as “blood money” instead of the prisoner being executed. In Goli’s case the family of her deceased husband is asking for 10bn tomans (approximately $91,000 USD) before a December deadline. If the money is not paid before the deadline Goli will be executed by way of hanging. Coming from an impoverished family that refused to help Goli escape her abusive husband, that is very unlikely to be paid but by raising awareness of this case there’s a chance the money can be raised in time. 

 According to IHR (Iranian Human Rights) Goli Kauhkan, a Baluch (a minority making up 2% of Iran’s population) was married to her cousin when she was just 12 years old. She endured years of abuse at the hands of her husband and at 18, after witnessing him beating her 5 year old son, a child she gave birth to when she was just 13, Goli called a relative for help. When the relative arrived there was an altercation that resulted in the death of her husband. Goli, despite being illiterate, signed a written confession after being interrogated without the presence of a lawyer. 

 This horrific case is nothing new in Iran where child marriage is legal and the rights of women and children are almost nonexistent. Please sign this petition to raise awareness for this human rights atrocity and stop Goli Kauhkan’s execution. This petition was created in hopes that it will be shared until it  reaches the right people.