Amnesty International: Iran rights abuses worst in 20 years

Human rights violations in Iran in the wake of the country's disputed June elections are some of the worst the country has seen in the past 20 years, according to an Amnesty International report released Thursday.

The report titled "Iran: Election contested, repression compounded" describes patterns of abuse before, during and after the controversial election that saw hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected, when authorities deployed militia and Revolutionary Guards to suppress mass protests against the disputed outcome.

"The Iranian leadership must ensure that the many allegations of torture, including rape, unlawful killings and other abuses are fully and independently investigated," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Program.

"Members of militias and officials who have committed violations must also be promptly held to account and on no account should any one be executed."

The human rights group has also urged Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to allow UN human rights experts to conduct investigations of alleged abuses.

"The Supreme Leader should order the government to invite in UN Special Rapporteurs on torture and on summary and arbitrary executions to help ensure that investigations are both rigorous and independent," said Sahraoui.

"To date, the investigations announced by various Iranian authorities seem to have been more concerned with covering up abuses than getting at the truth."

Official figures say 36 people were killed in post-election violence, while the opposition estimates the number to be more than 70.

At least 4,000 people were arrested across Iran after the elections.