An Iranian child bride could be hanged within weeks after she was
sentenced to death for allegedly murdering her abusive husband. Zeinab Sokian was sentenced to death for the 2012 murder of her husband, when she was just 17.
However, Zeinab married another prisoner while in jail and fell
pregnant, and as Iranian law prevents pregnant women from being executed
her death sentence was delayed.
However, on September 30 she gave birth to a stillborn child in Euromieh
central prison in northern Iran, meaning she could now be put to death
within weeks.Zeinab, who hails from a small village in northern Iran,
was just 15 when she married her first husband,Daily Mail reports.
Under Iranian law girls can marry at 13-years-old and boys at 15,
although international human rights organisations say both parties in a
marriage should be aged 18 or over.
During her trial, Zeinab claimed that her husband frequently beat and
abused her, a source told Human Rights Watch. However, her claims were
dismissed by the court.
The human rights organisation says that Zeinab was informed by
authorities this week her execution could take place in the coming
weeks.
