UN Criticizes Iran on Human Rights Violations The U.N. General Assembly has approved a resolution criticizing Iran for serious rights violations including torture and its "alarming" and frequent use of the death penalty. The vote Wednesday was 86 to 36, with 61 countries abstaining. The resolution also welcomes pledges by Iran's new president, Hassan Rouhani, on some important human rights issues such as eliminating discrimination against women and members of ethnic minorities. But it criticizes Iran's use of "inhuman" punishments, including flogging and amputations, and its use of the death penalty against young people under age 18. General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding.