Disabled Individuals Receive Neither Bonuses Nor Pension Adjustments; Government Fails to Meet Commitments

The government's continued disregard for the living conditions and obligations towards disabled individuals in the Islamic Republic remains evident. A disability rights activist criticized the government, stating that bonuses have not been paid and the 40% pension adjustment remains unresolved. ILNA news agency reported that with the removal of the budget line for these individuals in the year 1401, the little support for the disabled has faded. Activists in this field also believe that the support provided is minimal and does not meet any of the basic needs of these individuals. Behrouz Marouti, a disability rights activist, explained that 'the government has removed many of our rights, with the elimination of the bonuses being one example.' Marouti stated that last year's bonus was cut in half and completely eliminated this year. He mentioned that the parliament had increased the pensions for beneficiaries by 40% for the year 1402, but the government only paid a 20% increase for the first five months of the previous year and has yet to pay the difference, stating that 'there is no plan to pay this difference.' The ongoing issues faced by disabled individuals and the government's indifference have led to continuous protests by these individuals in front of various government agencies. In this context, Zabihullah Khodayian, head of the General Inspection Organization, stated on December 4 of last year that 'if officials step up, many of the problems faced by the disabled can be resolved.' The website Asr Iran also emphasized in a report on March 4, 1402, that 'disabled individuals repeatedly gather in the snow and cold or heat in front of the parliament, the Ministry of Health, or any organization that can help resolve their issues, hoping that someone will hear their cries.' According to this media, disabled individuals are forced to wait for hours in the streets with their wheelchairs until someone in Iran hears their voices. It is noteworthy that Article 27 of the Law on the Support of Persons with Disabilities mandates the government to 'provide living assistance for individuals with severe or very severe disabilities who are unemployed and without income at least equal to the annual minimum wage and allocate the necessary credits in the annual budget laws of the country,' but this part of the law has not yet been implemented. Reports of protests by disabled individuals in front of the Planning and Budget Organization in protest of the non-implementation of the law, reports of the murder of three disabled children in various regions of Iran; the father of the murdered child was released two days after his arrest, confirmation of serious violations at the mental health care center in Karaj; the Welfare Organization: the license has been revoked, continued indifference to the situation of the disabled in Iran; reports of 'assault and abuse' in a welfare center, a social activist: 'the arrears of the pensions for the disabled' have still not been paid, resistance from officials in response to the minimal demands of the disabled; the government's refusal to increase living assistance, government agents attacked the protest of disabled individuals in Tehran.