Iranian Disability Activists Sound Alarm on Rising Poverty Amid Government Neglect
As inflation continues to rise, over 9 million disabled Iranians are facing significant economic challenges, compounded by unfulfilled promises from the government. This dire situation has been highlighted by Behrouz Morovati, a prominent disability rights activist in Iran, who warns that soaring inflation has created a catastrophic economic landscape for individuals with disabilities.
According to Morovati, the average monthly income for a severely disabled person—including all available stipends, subsidies, and welfare payments—barely reaches 3 million tomans. This amount is only a fraction of what is necessary for a person to survive in today’s economy.
Recently, the ILNA news agency reported that the Employment Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities, mandated by Article 10 of the Law on the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (ratified in 2017), has yet to commence operations nearly seven years after its inception. Morovati elaborated on the situation, stating that although the idea for this support fund was conceived back in 2004, its implementation has faced numerous delays due to:
- Bureaucratic infighting
- Lack of political will
- Disputes over leadership appointments
Despite the Guardian Council approving its charter, ongoing administrative disagreements have rendered the fund inactive, exacerbating the financial distress of Iran’s disabled community.
Years of Broken Promises and Protests
Over the years, individuals with disabilities and their families have organized protests across various Iranian cities, demanding:
- Enforcement of existing laws
- Fair benefits and support
- Government accountability for years of neglect
Morovati stressed that the government has also neglected to enforce Article 27 of the same law, which stipulates that disability pensions should equal at least 20 percent of the annual minimum wage under Iran’s Seventh Development Plan. He stated, “The government does not even pay the current stipends in accordance with its own legal commitments.”
In the face of record inflation and declining purchasing power, the total support for a severely disabled person—when combining all forms of assistance—remains at approximately 3 million tomans. Alarmingly, about 300,000 individuals are still on waiting lists to receive these payments.
Stark Inequality and Rising Despair
Morovati has raised concerns about the vast disparity between disability benefits and the poverty line, stating, “When the poverty line is estimated between 30 million and 70 million tomans, it shows how unbearably hard it is for people with disabilities to meet even the most basic living needs.”
The activist further criticized the regime for not implementing the three-percent employment quota for individuals with disabilities, revealing that only around one percent of this quota has been fulfilled.
Millions Left Behind
According to Javad Hosseini, the head of the State Welfare Organization, more than 9.7 million Iranians live with disabilities, comprising roughly 11.5 percent of the population. Official reports indicate that around 60,000 new cases are added annually, primarily due to road accidents.
Despite these alarming statistics, Iran’s clerical regime continues to overlook the legal rights and basic human dignity of the disabled community. Activists warn that the combination of skyrocketing inflation, legal noncompliance, and systematic exclusion has pushed millions of disabled Iranians to the brink of survival—a crisis that starkly reveals the regime’s indifference toward the most vulnerable members of society.
As the situation grows more severe, it is crucial that the voices of disabled individuals are heard and that the government fulfills its obligations to support them. The current economic climate, combined with years of neglect, has created an urgent need for action to address the plight of those living with disabilities in Iran.
