A child bride sentenced to death in Iran has been spared hanging after her late husband's family accepted £70,000 as blood money. Goli Kouhkan, 25, spent seven years in prison, facing execution under Iran's qisas law for the death of her abusive husband. Arrested at 18, Kouhkan was accused of helping kill Alireza Abil in 2018. Kouhkan was forced into marriage at 12 and suffered years of abuse. On the day her husband died, she intervened when he beat their son. The husband's cousin arrived, and a fight ended with the husband's death. Kouhkan's lawyer said donations helped raise the reduced blood money amount of 8 billion tomans (£70,000). The husband's parents signed documents pardoning Kouhkan, as seen in a video by Mizan News Agency. Kouhkan hopes to reunite with her son, who is due 2 billion tomans from the blood money. UN rights experts called the law "in violation of many international standards" and highlighted systemic gender bias against women in Iran's justice system. Iran leads in women's executions worldwide, with many victims of child marriage or domestic violence. Amnesty International reported 30 women executed last year; 42 have been executed so far in 2025, including two child brides. Kouhkan's case sparked global support and media attention, which some say helped save her life.