The Iranian government has banned dog-walking in a number of cities in the country. Authorities claim that this is for health and safety concerns. Transporting dogs in vehicles has also been prohibited.
In 2019 dog-walking was banned in Tehran, the capital.
Since the country’s Islamic revolution in 1979, dog ownership has been frowned upon by authorities, as the animals are regarded as unclean in Islam. According to the BBC, despite efforts to discourage it dog ownership is rising especially among young people. The act of owning a dog is seen as a quiet way of protesting against the regime.
The ban is enforced unevenly, with people still walking their dogs in Tehran and other cities, despite the prohibition on dog-walking.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has previously said that dog ownership, apart from keeping the animals for hunting, security, and herding, is “reprehensible”.
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