E/CN.4/1998/38 page 24 transmitted cases to which the Government had replied. Responses were received from the Government in each case, as well as on two other cases transmitted by the Rapporteur in 1996. In addition, the Special Rapporteur made 14 urgent appeals, 11 of which concerned East Timor, on behalf of 112 named individuals and two groups, 11 of which the Government replied to. Observations 116. As the Special Rapporteur observed last year, he “appreciates the Government’s responses in respect of the cases he transmits to it. Despite these responses, he believes that the persistence and consistency of the allegations he receives, justify continuing concern with the issue. In particular, he does not consider simple denials by law enforcement or security agencies of detention or ill-treatment during detention as conclusive”. 117. He considers that the continuing unwillingness of the Government to invite him to visit Indonesia and East Timor could be construed as being aimed at avoiding direct and independent evaluation of the allegations and the official denials. Iran (Islamic Republic of) 118. The Special Rapporteur transmitted three urgent appeals, two of them in conjunction with the Special Representative on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, concerning four individuals and a group of several hundred persons. Observations 119. The Special Rapporteur notes that, in his report to the General Assembly, the Special Representative of the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran described himself as “deeply concerned at the continuing reports of the use of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the Islamic Republic of Iran” (A/52/472, para. 31). He especially shares this concern in respect of continuing reported use of stoning and lashing for offences of a moral nature. Iraq Observations 120. Although he has not been in a position to transmit specific cases to the Government, the Special Rapporteur notes the “particular concern” of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iraq that “the practice of torture continue[s] to occur in Iraq (A/52/476, para. 56) and the “grave concern” of the Human Rights Committee about “reports from many sources concerning the high incidence of... torture and ill-treatment” (CCPR/C/79/Add.84, para. 8). Israel 121. On 11 June 1997, the Special Rapporteur informed the Government that he had continued to receive information according to which a large number of