Mitra Farazandeh

Up to 10 million people in Iran are living with disabilities, campaigners say , but the culture surrounding the issue is largely one of shame, writes BBC Near East Women's Affairs journalist Feranak Amidi. One area which is particularly taboo in the socially conservative country is sex, and more so the sexual needs of disabled women. Here, 41-year-old Mitra Farazandeh, who lives with disabilities in a small village in northern Iran, describes her own experience - and frustrations. I have loved that man for 30 years, although we have never been together. The fact that my father doesn't allow me to be with someone I love pains me. Many other disabled women like me suffer because our sexual and emotional needs are suppressed. I believe the most important change needs to come from within ourselves. We are the ones who need to accept our sexual abilities and limitations. I know many disabled women around me whose families are unaware that these women are sexual beings because these women have failed to believe it themselves. If you don't believe you deserve to be loved, how can your family believe it? There are still many people who believe that the sexual and emotional needs of disabled women are not a priority. But the truth is far different. I personally believe that sometimes the sexual energy of disabled people can be stronger than those who don't have disability, maybe because it is impossible for those of us who have severe physical disability to release our energy the usual way. Our physical disability can feel like a cocoon holding us inside. To release our physical and sexual energy would give us more space in this tiny cocoon. BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. For our 2017 season we challenged them to tackle four of the biggest problems facing women today - the glass ceiling, female illiteracy, harassment in public spaces and sexism in sport. Find us on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter and use 100Women