For the first time in nearly two decades, the United Nations' top human rights body has rejected a resolution condemning Iran for alleged human rights abuses. 

Monday's vote in Geneva means Tehran will not be the target of special U.N. scrutiny and reports at next year's meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Commission. The mandate of the U.N.'s special investigator for Iran will not be renewed. 

By a 20-19 margin, the commission rejected a European Union proposal that would have censured Iran. Fourteen countries abstained from the vote. 

Iran has been censured every year since 1984 for alleged executions and torture, as well as discrimination against minorities. The Tehran government has prevented human rights investigators from visiting the country since 1996. 

The E.U. draft resolution cited Iran for public executions by stoning and other forms of "cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments," including amputations and floggings. The defeated resolution also condemned Iran for discrimination against religious minorities and ethnic groups, and expressed concern about curbs on freedom of expression. 

The Associated Press quotes an Iranian representative to the world body as praising the vote. She said the E.U. resolution ignored what she called real improvement in human rights in her country. 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

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