Iranian authorities have extended their crackdown on dog walking to over a dozen cities. Their mission is to protect the public’s health, peace, order, and safety. The newest extension, the 31st, further west now reaches Ilam city. This amendment marks the latest step in a long-running effort by Iranian officials to curtail canine movement in public areas.
According to Iran’s state newspaper, the measures are intended to “maintain public order, ensure safety and protect public health.” This rationale echoes previous statements made by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who in 2017 declared that “keeping dogs for reasons other than herding, hunting and guard dogs is considered reprehensible.”
This most recent ban has had a chilling effect on at least 17 other cities around the country. Isfahan in the center and Kerman in the south are the two most recent cities to have introduced similar restrictions. An official from Ilam city stated that “legal action will be taken against violators,” signaling a stricter enforcement of these regulations.
Abbas Najafi, the prosecutor of Hamedan, reinforced the government’s stance by asserting, “dog walking is a threat to public health, peace and comfort.” In 2021, 75 of these lawmakers publicly declared that pet ownership should not be a priority. They condemned it to the category of a “destructive social problem” that had the potential to endanger the Iranian and Islamic lifestyle.
Despite these bans, enforcement has been inconsistent. Despite the restrictive laws, countless dog owners safely walk their dogs in Tehran and other cities every day without incident or consequence. In 2019, Iran police announced a ban on dog walking in Tehran. This hasn’t been enough to stop residents from walking their dogs on city streets.
The justification for these bans frequently goes beyond health rationale. Ayatollah Khamenei specifically condemned things like immodesty that imitate infidels or spread the culture of infidels are considered haram. This cultural lens impacts not only how society views companion animals, but it influences government policy on pet ownership and public behavior.