Thirty-two members of the Iranian parliament are currently pushing a bill that proposes this:

… walking dogs, trading them or keeping them at home will be punishable by 74 lashes or a fine of 1m to 10m Tomans [an equivalent of $320 to $3,200].

The bill says that

Walking and playing with animals such as dogs and monkeys outdoors and in public places are harmful to the health and the peace of other people, especially kids and women, and are against our Islamic culture.

As we’ve seen before,

According to Islamic custom, dogs are unclean.

It’s a dog of a doctrine (a dogtrine, if you will), and not all Muslims adhere to it.

Iranians avoid keeping them at home in general, though a minority, especially in north Tehran’s wealthy districts, enjoy keeping pets. Iran’s morality police, deployed in public places, have previously cracked down on dog owners, cautioning them or confiscating their animals… Hardliners in Iran are particularly worried about what they call a “cultural invasion” from the west and see pet ownership, especially dogs, as an imitation of western culture.

Could it be much ado about nothing?

It was not clear if the majority of Iranian MPs would approve such a bill but the parliament is dominated by conservatives who are likely to share the views of those behind the proposal.

Try not to think about what will happen to the canines who are abandoned and/or confiscated if the bill passes.

(Image via Shutterstock)



