Rights groups urge UN to appoint special envoy for abuses in Iran

Rights groups want UN Iran envoy

NEW YORK — Human rights groups are urging the United Nations to appoint a special envoy to investigate continuing abuses in Iran following the disputed presidential elections there.

Human Rights Watch and the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran say that at least 72 people have died in the crackdown that followed opposition protests against the ballot, in which President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won re-election.

They say that since June, more than 4,000 were detained and about 400 remain in jail.

Steve Crawshaw of Human Rights Watch said Tuesday that although other governments in the Middle East regularly violate rights conventions, only Iran’s case will be taken up at the upcoming U.N. General Assembly.

The assembly is due to discuss a Canadian-drafted resolution from the Human Rights Council on the situation in Iran.