Iran Mobilizes Against Dog Walking: New Enforcement Efforts to Crack Down on Pet Ownership

In a surprising turn of events, Iran's government is renewing enforcement of its controversial ban on dog walking, originally enacted in 2019. This week, prosecutors in at least 20 cities cited public health concerns and "threats to public safety" as rationales for the crackdown. The announcement coincides with calls to treat dog walking as a "clear crime," as stated by Mohammad Hossein Doroudi, the prosecutor in Mashhad.

Despite years of relaxed enforcement, dog ownership has increasingly drawn scrutiny amid cultural and religious tensions. The regime perceives pet dogs as agents of Western influence while Islamic dogma categorizes them as "najes," or impure, complicating their acceptance in many facets of Persian life. Notably, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has previously issued a fatwa condemning the presence of dogs due to the perceived impurity associated with their saliva and fur.

Following a significant lull in enforcement, local authorities, particularly in Mashhad, are re-evaluating their approach. They have indicated that dog owners caught in violation will first receive warnings, with subsequent fines or the confiscation of pets looming for those who fail to comply. As this situation develops, it highlights the intricate relationship between cultural traditions, health, and the evolving stance of regime officials in Iran.