The Iranian government has implemented an extensive ban on dog-walking, now affecting over 18 cities, citing public safety and health risks as primary reasons for this controversial decision. The new legislation follows a previous police directive from 2019 that prohibited dog walking in Tehran, which has now sparked a nationwide crackdown on dog ownership.
Iran's Dog Walking Ban Expands: Concerns Rise Over Public Safety and Freedom
Iran's Dog Walking Ban Expands: Concerns Rise Over Public Safety and Freedom
Iran has broadened its dog-walking ban to cover at least 18 cities, raising concerns among citizens and animal rights advocates.
Transporting dogs in vehicles has also been banned, igniting debates on individual freedoms and the government's stringent cultural policies. Authorities have long regarded dog ownership as a symbol of Western decadence, a view rooted in beliefs established during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and have expressed concerns that dog walking poses a threat to public morals.
Cities like Isfahan and Kerman have recently enforced similar restrictions, with officials indicating that "legal action" might be taken against those violating these new laws, as reported by local media. Despite the crackdowns, dog owners often find ways to circumvent these regulations, choosing to walk their pets in secluded areas or transporting them in vehicles when necessary.
The latest ban has drawn criticism from various sectors of society. Many question why police are prioritizing dog ownership restrictions instead of focusing on rising violent crime rates. Furthermore, dog ownership and related activities have become subtle forms of resistance against the oppressive environment of the Iranian regime, alongside actions like defying hijab laws and participating in underground gatherings.
Iran's supreme authority, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has previously voiced strong disapproval of dog ownership, labeling it "reprehensible" except for certain contexts like herding or security. In light of these developments, there is ongoing tension as the nation's young populace increasingly views pet ownership as an act of defiance against traditional norms enforced by the current government.
Cities like Isfahan and Kerman have recently enforced similar restrictions, with officials indicating that "legal action" might be taken against those violating these new laws, as reported by local media. Despite the crackdowns, dog owners often find ways to circumvent these regulations, choosing to walk their pets in secluded areas or transporting them in vehicles when necessary.
The latest ban has drawn criticism from various sectors of society. Many question why police are prioritizing dog ownership restrictions instead of focusing on rising violent crime rates. Furthermore, dog ownership and related activities have become subtle forms of resistance against the oppressive environment of the Iranian regime, alongside actions like defying hijab laws and participating in underground gatherings.
Iran's supreme authority, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has previously voiced strong disapproval of dog ownership, labeling it "reprehensible" except for certain contexts like herding or security. In light of these developments, there is ongoing tension as the nation's young populace increasingly views pet ownership as an act of defiance against traditional norms enforced by the current government.
