Iran: U.N. Condemns Increase in Human Rights Abuses

In a report to the U.N. Human Rights Council, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern over the increase in violent crackdowns  on the Iranian opposition as well as executions of drug traffickers, political prisoners and juvenile criminals. The report also condemned increased floggings, amputations and the continued sentencing of men and women to death by stoning for alleged adultery.  The Secretary-General called on Tehran to allow U.N. human rights investigators to go to Iran to assess the situation.  The United States is lobbying at the council for a resolution that would censure Iran for its crackdown and establish the first U.N. human rights investigator for Iran in a decade.  Sweden has introduced this proposal and it is to be voted on during meetings on March 24th or 25th.