Prosecutors in at least 20 Iranian cities are planning stricter enforcement of a 2019 ban on dog walking. The move, aimed at addressing perceived public health and safety risks, reflects cultural and religious sentiments against dogs, which are viewed as symbols of Western influence and impure under Islamic beliefs.
Iran Reinforces Ban on Dog Walking Amid Cultural Controversy
Iran Reinforces Ban on Dog Walking Amid Cultural Controversy
Authorities in Iran are intensifying enforcement of a 2019 dog-walking ban, citing public health risks while highlighting cultural and religious opposition to pets.
In recent days, officials across Iran, particularly in at least 20 cities, have announced a renewed effort to enforce a controversial ban on dog walking. Instituted in 2019, the ban was largely ignored until now. With claims of public health risks and safety concerns, prosecutors are asserting that dog walking is a “clear crime,” as articulated by Mohammad Hossein Doroudi, the prosecutor for Mashhad.
The renewed crackdown comes amidst a backdrop of cultural and religious opposition to dogs in Iranian society. Dogs are often associated with Western influence, which has been met with resistance by the government. Furthermore, Islamic beliefs deem dogs as “najes” or impure. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, reinforced this perspective with a fatwa declaring that a dog’s saliva or hair contaminates anything it touches, rendering prayers invalid.
Despite the ban's existence for several years, enforcement has been lax. Moving forward, violators in cities like Mashhad can expect initial warnings, followed by fines or the confiscation of their pets if they fail to comply with the regulations. As these developments unfold, dog owners across Iran are left to navigate the implications of a law that has polarized the community between cultural adherence and the companionship of pets.
