Welfare Official: Care Centers for Disabled Individuals in Iran Are Not 'Paradises'

Following reports of 'torture' of disabled individuals with 'chains and dogs' at the 'Afarinesh' care center in the city of Fardis, the Deputy of Iran's Welfare Organization acknowledged that not all care centers for disabled individuals are 'paradises' and that 'numerous violations' occur daily in these centers. According to the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), Hossein Nahvij Nejad, the Deputy of Welfare, emphasized on Thursday, September 26, that there is 'insufficient evidence' for 'organized torture' of disabled individuals at the 'Afarinesh' center in Alborz province. Additionally, according to the Mehr News Agency, Mr. Nahvij Nejad stated that the Welfare Organization does not claim that all care centers for disabled individuals are paradises, noting that violations can occur in all institutions and organizations. He pointed out that 'numerous violations' occur daily in these care centers and announced that for these violations, a verbal warning is issued for the first time, a one-month warning for the second time, and a 15-day warning for the third time. According to Mr. Nahvij Nejad, if issues are not resolved after the 15-day warning, the center's case will be referred to the central commission, and a closure order will be issued 'if deemed appropriate.' He emphasized: 'We do not claim that the conditions for care and service provision in care centers for disabled individuals meet international standards, but because the Welfare Organization cannot cover all subsidies for the care of disabled individuals and those under coverage in these centers, we must act cautiously regarding the closure of these centers.' Mehr News Agency reported on September 6 that one of the care centers for disabled individuals in Alborz province was closed months ago due to 'proven torture and abuse' of disabled individuals, as well as inspectors' reports on issues such as 'beatings,' 'dog therapy,' and 'chain therapy.' Eight days after this report was published, Haji Reza Shakerimi, the prosecutor of Alborz province, confirmed 'assault on 20 disabled individuals' and the use of 'ropes and chains' to restrain disabled individuals at this center, while stating that 'no evidence of the use of dogs for torturing disabled individuals has been found.' Nevertheless, the Deputy of Rehabilitation Affairs of the Welfare Organization stated on Wednesday that this center could resume operations after 'resolving the issue and appointing a new technical manager.' Mr. Nahvij Nejad also referred to the 'propaganda attack from foreign networks' and announced that the closure of this center continues. The Deputy of the Welfare Organization stated on Thursday: 'Before foreign media felt sorry for us, we cared for ourselves and closed the center in June.' He added: 'The media's involvement in these matters is encouraging for us, but fairness and justice must be observed.' Private care centers for disabled individuals operate with the permission of the Welfare Organization. Meanwhile, the Deputy of Rehabilitation of the Welfare Organization stated in another part of his remarks on Thursday that there are 1.2 million disabled individuals in the country, of which 40,000, or 3%, are cared for in 11,000 care homes. According to Mr. Nahvij Nejad, it is estimated that the monthly cost for caring for a disabled individual in a center is 800,000 tomans, while the government pays 400,000 tomans of this amount. He also reported that 'many' care centers for disabled individuals have been established by the people themselves and are not government-run. Some care centers for disabled individuals in Iran are run as charities, and the website of Iranian charities lists more than 140 charitable institutions caring for disabled individuals. The Deputy of Rehabilitation Affairs of the Welfare Organization also stated on Thursday that '11,000 mentally ill patients' are cared for by this organization, among whom '1,000 are murderers and criminals.'