Mai Sato comments on case of child bride who has been spared execution in Iran

ICPR Director and UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Professor Mai Sato, has commented on the case of a child bride in Iran, Goli Kouhkan, who has been spared execution over the death of her husband after his parents were paid the equivalent of £70,000 in exchange for their forgiveness. 

Professor Sato said "“It’s great that Kouhkan won’t be executed – one life has been saved … but it doesn’t really solve the issue of the qisas law, which is in violation of many international standards.”

Mehdi Ghatei, founder of Qasim Child Foundation, a charity registered in Australia, said he had been contacted by organisations and individuals all over the world after the Guardian’s story about Kouhkan and that international pressure had played a part in saving her life. “The Iranian regime tries to keep people silent,” he said. “When people start raising awareness [of cases such as Kouhkan’s] there is sometimes huge pressure from international bodies, which increases the chances of halting executions. The role of the mainstream media is huge in this case, unbelievable.”

The article also links the press release Professor Sato put out with other mandate holders about the case.

Read the full article in the Guardian, and find out more about Professor Sato's work here.