TEHRAN, Iran: The Iranian authorities have extended a ban on walking dogs in public to several cities across the country, citing concerns over public health, social order, and safety.
According to Iranian media the ban — which echoes a 2019 police directive that barred walking dogs in Tehran — was expanded to Ilam city in the west on Sunday.
In recent days, at least 17 additional cities—including Isfahan in central Iran and Kerman in the south—have implemented similar bans on walking dogs in public.
Many religious scholars regard contact with dogs, particularly their saliva, as najis (ritually impure), and some officials see dog ownership as a sign of Western cultural influence.
As part of broader efforts to discourage dog ownership, local authorities have periodically imposed restrictions on walking dogs in public areas or transporting them in vehicles.
On Saturday, the state newspaper Iran said the latest measures are aimed at “maintaining public order, ensuring safety and protecting public health”.
“Dog walking is a threat to public health, peace and comfort,” said Abbas Najafi, prosecutor of the western city of Hamedan, as quoted by Iran newspaper.
In 2021, some 75 lawmakers condemned pet ownership as a “destructive social problem”, saying it could “gradually change the Iranian and Islamic way of life”.
