Iran: Dogs Arrested (Again)
Iranian security forces are back in the streets for a sequel to their infamous action of 2007: arresting dogs. The last crackdown lasted only a short time, and the dogs were soon released. According to Iranian newspapers, several dogs were recently confiscated and moved to ‘temporary to jail’.
Iran's government considers keeping pet dogs un-Islamic, but has mostly tolerated it. It is possible that because the people most likely to keep dogs are Iran's urban and educated youth, dogs may be generating more official hostility again.
Animal Persian blog writes with humor and irony about what heavy crimes animal lovers in Iran may face being prosecuted for in the future [fa]:
Animal Persian posts a mock photo of a 'crime scene' where the owner is labeled a 'criminal' and the dog is the 'crime instrument'.
1- Keeping a dog full time in an apartment
2- Sheltering two dogs as refugees
3- Distributing flyers in favor of dog ownership
4- Creating a blog with a dog name and writing posts about dogs
5- Walking dogs in the street
6- Sending 15 text messages to support animals, especially dogs
7- Owning three books about dogs
8- Suspicious visits to a veterinary clinic
9- Imitating a dog's voice at a student party
10- The discovery two dog food cans in your home
The blog Anti Hunter writes [fa] that 39 members of the Iranian parliament proposed a bill to ban dogs and other “harmful animals” from the streets. They call pet ownership an “imitation of westerners and a social-cultural problem”.
The blogger says if parliament approves this proposal, owners will be punished if they keep animals that are considered impure under Islam. Anti Hunter also says:
Who is going to judge, and based on which criteria, whether an animal, a creature of God, is harmful? Can we ignore all services a dog renders to people? Do these MPs ask the expert opinion of sociologists, psychologists or veterinary doctors?
Dardesaraye yek Dampezeshk (Troubles of a veterinary doctor) writes [fa] that we can find positive characterisations of dogs in the words of Imam Ali, the first Shiite Imam, who said believers deserve to have them.
10 comments
“The blog Anti Hunter writes [fa] that 39 members of the Iranian parliament proposed a bill to ban dogs and other “harmful animals” from the streets.”
Does they want to ban dogs from just the streets or also from private homes?
Dear Eduardo, according to the blogger both. The blogger says if parliament approves this proposal, owners will be punished if they keep animals that are considered impure under Islam.
What about guide dogs and working dogs? Are they banned as well?
It is not a new idea. I have seen many dog poo (shit) in my area. I reckon dog owners SHOULD clean their dogs poo and dump them rather than keep them on the street for people. Do not forget, many people still have their Persian tradition and would not like to have the dog shit on the bottom of their shoes.
What can they possibly come up with next? What a load of rubbish! I am an animal lover and animals are much better than a lot of people. They never stab you in the back, they are faithful, they protect you, they don’t judge you or criticise you and have and undying love for you. I wonder how many of these politicians and people in parliament live by the book? Are they perfect?
Well I do agree with kombizz, there is nothing worse than dog poo in the street, beach or in the front of your house, so be like Australia and have a rule to carry little bags, to pick up your own dogs poo and put it in the rubbish bin.
What about the dogs presently residing in Iran? Will they all be exported to other countries? or they are going to kill the dog population from Iran. In either way, its not good for the society.