The photo collection serves as a visual representation of the difficult circumstances faced by the citizens of Iran by portraying a week of everyday meals of a 44-year-old working-class woman, highlighting the importance of addressing the financial crisis and improving the human rights situation in the country 44 years after the Islamic revolution. Her family’s income is slightly above the average of working-class families in Iran. According to her, the priority now is not to remain hungry, and getting full has become a distant dream for a while.
The financial crisis in Iran has been a significant issue for the country in recent years. The situation has only worsened with the devaluation of the Iranian rial, the rise in inflation, and the imposition of economic sanctions. The impact of this financial crisis has been particularly severe on the food situation in Iran, with ordinary citizens struggling to make ends meet and maintain a healthy diet.
Iran’s food situation has become terrible, with food prices increasing at an average rate of 78% in the past 12 months. This has made it increasingly difficult for ordinary Iranians to afford necessities, let alone maintain a balanced and nutritious diet. The situation has been made even worse by the low rate of protein consumption among the population, as many struggle to meet their daily nutritional needs.
The financial crisis has not just affected the food situation in Iran but also the anger and frustration felt by the population towards the government. Despite the difficult circumstances, Iran’s clerical regime has been spending money to support its militia proxies abroad in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and several other countries in the world rather than investing in its own citizens and improving the food situation in the country. This has only added to the anger and frustration felt by the population, who feel neglected and forgotten by their leaders. Since September 2022, following the death of a young woman (Mahsa Amini) in the custody of the morality police, there have been widespread growing protests all over the country. This has been the most significant challenge to the regime’s control in Iran since the early days of the 1979 revolution. The government has responded with violence, killing hundreds and arresting thousands of protesters who are demanding equal rights for women and an end to the Islamic regime.
Article by Bahram Vahedi
