Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Jun 9: Iran has widened its controversial ban on dog walking in public spaces to more than 20 cities, citing concerns over public health, safety, and social order, local media reported. The ban, first introduced in Tehran in 2019, has now been extended to cities including Kermanshah, Ilam, Hamadan, Kerman, Boroujerd, Robat Karim, Lavasanat, and Golestan.

The latest measures have been enforced through local directives and police orders rather than a national law. However, authorities have invoked existing legal provisions such as Article 638 (public morality), Article 688 (threats to public health), and Article 40 of the Constitution (prohibition of harming others) to justify the move.

State-run Iran newspaper quoted Abbas Najafi, prosecutor of Hamedan, saying, “Dog walking is a threat to public health, peace and comfort.” Khalkhal’s public prosecutor Mozaffar Rezaei warned that offenders seen walking dogs in parks or public spaces, or even transporting them in vehicles, would face legal consequences.

Authorities have already begun taking action against violators, with reports of arrests and increasing resistance from dog owners. In Ilam, a city official confirmed legal action would be taken against those who defy the ban.

Critics say the ban reflects an attempt to curb Western cultural influence and uphold conservative religious values. In Shia Islam, contact with dog saliva is considered ritually impure, a belief influencing this policy. The move has sparked backlash from citizens, particularly pet owners, who see it as an infringement on personal freedoms.