UN appoints special human rights envoy for Iran

The United Nations appointed a special human rights envoy to Iran on Thursday, owing to concerns over abuses in the Islamic republic, dpa reported.

The council voted with 22 members in favour, mostly Western nations. Seven countries were opposed, including China, Cuba, Russia and Pakistan.

The resolution to appoint the rapporteur was presented to the 47-member council by Sweden with the backing of the United States.

Tehran's diplomat at the council, Seyed Mohammed Reza Sajjadi, lashed out at the US over the resolution, charging that Washington was hampering the work of the human rights body and condemned its support for Israel.

US Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe said Washington was concerned by what it saw as grave violations of human rights in Iran, and a deteriorating situation.

Appointing country specific special envoys is controversial at the UN, but such rapporteurs also exist for several nations regularly cited as human rights abusers, such as North Korea and Myanmar, or failed states, like Somalia.

It remained unclear if the person who takes the newly created job would be able to enter Iran and carry out the work. North Korea, for example, prevents the official assigned to the country from stepping foot on its territory.


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