Iranian authorities are actively expanding the list of cities where dog owners are prohibited from walking their pets. Such a restriction has already been introduced in at least 25 cities across the country, Iranian media reported on Monday.
The ban on walking dogs and even transporting them in private vehicles was first introduced in Tehran in 2019. Violators face fines and, in some cities, confiscation of the vehicle in which the dog was being transported.
As Hamadan province prosecutor Abbas Najafi announced recently, walking dogs in urban areas, parks and public places is now prohibited. According to him, such actions pose a “threat to the comfort and tranquillity of citizens.” Moreover, four-legged pets can no longer be transported in private vehicles. The police will strictly monitor this, and violators will have their cars confiscated.
Along with the walking ban, prosecutors in various cities and provinces have instructed police cybercrime units to block social media accounts advertising the sale of dogs.
There is no national law in Iran prohibiting the walking of dogs. The judicial authorities use local government orders and police warrants to enforce the ban. In their decrees, the authorities refer to various articles of the criminal code and the country’s constitution, including articles on public morality, threats to public health and causing harm to others.
City authorities believe that walking dogs poses a threat to public health and overall public safety. In addition, municipal officials note that dogs as pets are a “reflection of aspirations to a Western lifestyle” and a violation of Shiite Islamic traditions.
