UN rights council orders probe of Iran crackdown on protests
The United Nations Human Rights Council condemned Iran's repression of peaceful demonstrators following the death of Mahsa Amini, and voted to create a high-level investigation into the deadly crackdown.
Despite heavy lobbying by Tehran and a last-minute effort by China to undercut the resolution, a broader-than-expected majority of the 47-member council backed launching a probe of Iran's response to the ongoing protests.
Thunderous applause erupted when the resolution passed with 25 votes in favour, 16 abstaining and only six countries -- Armenia, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Pakistan and Venezuela -- opposed.
The vote came at the end of an urgent session requested by Germany and Iceland with the backing of 50 countries to discuss the situation in Iran, rocked by two months of protests.
During the session, UN rights chief Volker Turk insisted that "the unnecessary and disproportionate use of force must come to an end."
Turk, who told reporters he had offered to visit Iran but had received no response from Tehran, said more than 300 people had been killed since Amini's death.
Norway-based group Iran Human Rights has put the toll above 400, including more than 50 children.
Around 14,000 people, including children, had been arrested over the protests, he said.
Rights groups also celebrated the vote, with Amnesty International describing it as "historic".
Iran however denounced the Western countries behind Thursday's meeting.
