"No Dog Walking, No Dogs in Cars"... Why Is Iran Taking Such Drastic Measures?

Iran Expands Ban on Dog Walking and Transport in Vehicles
Pet Ownership Seen as "Western Culture" and "Impure"
Young Iranians Quietly Resist by Keeping Dogs

Photo of a dog walking unrelated to the article content. Pexels

The Iranian government has expanded its "dog walking ban" for reasons of public order and health.

According to the BBC on June 8 (local time), Iranian authorities have recently extended the dog walking ban to at least 18 cities, including major cities such as Isfahan and Kerman, and have also prohibited transporting dogs in vehicles. Iranian authorities have announced that they will take legal action against those who violate the dog walking ban.

Abbas Najafi, chief prosecutor of Hamedan city, claimed in an interview with an Iranian media outlet that "dog walking threatens public health, well-being, and tranquility."

This type of ban was first introduced in 2019 in Tehran, the capital of Iran. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, there has been a widespread negative perception of pet ownership in Iran, as keeping dogs is viewed as a product of Western culture or dogs are considered unclean animals.

However, as more young people have begun to keep dogs in recent years, dog ownership has become a symbol of quiet resistance against the repressive regime.

Nevertheless, due to inconsistent enforcement of the restrictions, many dog owners still walk their dogs in public places throughout Iran, including Tehran. There is no nationwide law prohibiting dog ownership, but when prosecutors issue local restrictions, police enforce them.

Iranian politicians and religious leaders regard pet ownership as an un-Islamic act. In particular, religious scholars consider touching dogs or coming into contact with dog saliva as "najis" (impure). Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has also stated in the past that dog ownership is not desirable unless it is for livestock, hunting, or security purposes.

In 2021, 75 Iranian members of parliament pointed out that dog breeding is a "destructive social problem that could gradually change the way of life in Iran and Islam." In 2010, the Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance banned advertisements for pets and related products, and in 2014, a bill was proposed to impose fines and flogging for those caught walking dogs, although it was not ultimately passed.

Some have argued that cracking down on dog walking is inappropriate at a time when concerns about serious crime are growing. The BBC reported that there are also voices criticizing the police for suppressing individual freedoms instead of focusing on ensuring public safety.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.