A former foreign minister of the Maldives, Ahmed Shaheed, was named United Nations human rights investigator on Iran on Friday, the first in nearly a decade.

The UN Human Rights Council established the independent post of special rapporteur on human rights in Iran on March 24, a move spearheaded by Washington that will subject Tehran’s record to scrutiny.

The 47-member forum has voiced concern at Iran’s crackdown on opposition figures and increased use of the death penalty and called on the Islamic Republic to cooperate with its new envoy.

Shaheed’s appointment was announced by the council’s spokesman Cedric Sapey at the end of a three-week session.

Source: REUTERS