Public hanging in Qazvin, Iran

UNITED NATIONS. UN VOICES SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN IRAN

November 18, 2005: the UN General Assembly passed a resolution expressing "serious concern" about human rights violations in Iran, including the use of torture and public executions, and called on Tehran to end the abuses. The vote was 77 in favor, 51 against with 46 abstentions.
The resolution expressed "serious concern at the continuing use of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" of detainees as well as "public executions, violations of the human rights of ethnic and religious minorities and intimidation and persecution of human rights defenders."
It also called on Tehran to ensure "full respect for the rights to freedom of assembly, opinion and expression," to "eliminate, in law and in practice, the use of torture and cruel, inhuman or other degrading treatment or punishment such as amputations and flogging," and "to abolish public executions and other executions carried out in the absence of respect for internationally recognized safeguards."
The resolution also cited "continuing harassment, intimidation and persecution of human rights defenders, non-governmental organizations, political opponents, religious dissenters, journalists, academics and web bloggers." (Sources: Agence France Presse, 18/11/2005)