In brief
The Iranian government, under pressure from public safety concerns, plans to strictly enforce its 2019 ban on dog walking in at least 20 cities, with violators facing fines or confiscation of pets.
In a recent move, Iranian authorities have declared a renewed commitment to enforcing a ban on dog walking that was originally instituted in 2019. Prosecutors across 20 cities, including the populous Mashhad, have voiced concerns about public health and safety, stating that activities such as walking dogs in public spaces will be treated as criminal offenses."The act of dog walking is unequivocally a crime," asserted Mohammad Hossein Doroudi, the Mashhad prosecutor, during an announcement. The response stems from fears that dogs symbolize Western cultural influences, which the government has historically frowned upon. Religious perspectives also play a key role, as dogs are often viewed within Islam as "najes," or impure, due to concerns regarding hygiene.Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, previously issued a religious edict explaining that a dog’s saliva or hair can render surfaces and individuals impure, making prayers invalid if these substances are present. The prior lax enforcement of the law, which also prohibits driving with dogs, is set to be reversed, according to officials.Doroudi mentioned that those violating the ban will initially receive a warning, but repeat offenders might face significant penalties, including fines or the confiscation of their dogs. This escalation in enforcement marks a significant shift from previous practices, which many dog owners had come to rely upon.
