Report: Goli Kouhkan Spared from Execution After Forgiveness by the Victim’s Family

Goli Kouhkan, a Baloch woman from Iran’s Golestan Province who had been sentenced to qisas (retribution in kind) for the 2018 killing of her husband, was spared from execution on Tuesday, December 9 , 2025, after the victim’s family granted full and unconditional forgiveness. The head of Golestan’s Judiciary confirmed the decision, describing it as made “in honor of the status of mothers and the birth anniversary of Lady Fatemeh.”

This unexpected development came at a time when Kouhkan and her family had only until the end of December to raise the substantial amount of blood money (diya) demanded by the victim’s family. Civil society groups and citizens had been actively fundraising in recent days amid fears that the execution might be carried out.

Case Background

Goli Kouhkan was forced into marriage with her cousin at the age of 12 and, according to relatives, endured years of severe domestic violence. In 2018, during a family altercation that resulted in her husband’s death, she was arrested and later charged with “participation in murder,” ultimately receiving a qisas sentence.

Human Rights Concerns

According to UN human rights experts, this case exemplified:

• structural discrimination against women,
• forced and child marriage,
• prolonged domestic violence,
• unfair judicial proceedings and lack of access to legal counsel,
• and coerced confessions.

They had previously warned against carrying out the sentence.

Blood Money Negotiations and the Family’s Pardon

Initially, the victim’s family set two conditions for granting forgiveness:

• payment of 10 billion tomans in blood money, and
• Kouhkan’s permanent relocation from the city of Gorgan.

Subsequent negotiations reduced the amount to 8 billion tomans, a sum still impossible for her family and supporters to raise, increasing fears that the execution might proceed.

However, in an unexpected turn, the victim’s family announced today that they were pardoning Kouhkan unconditionally. In a video message, the victim’s father said they chose to forgo retribution “in honor of the status of mothers.”

Social Significance of the Case

Goli Kouhkan’s case had become a symbol of domestic violence, forced marriage, economic hardship, and the lack of protective mechanisms for women in Iran.

Many observers view her rescue from execution as the result of:

• public support and social solidarity,
• the efforts of civil society organizations,
• and the compassionate decision of the victim’s family.