https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-ban-dogs-cats-bunnies/31570095.html
Iran’s parliament is floating legislation that would ban most household pets in the name of protecting the country from the dangerous influence of “unclean” animals.
Under the bill on the “protection of public rights against dangerous and harmful animals,” prepared by hard-line conservative lawmakers on November 17, Iranians would be barred from owning, breeding, and transporting dogs, cats, rabbits, and other common pets.
The keeping of “wild animals” such as snakes, lizards, crocodiles, mice, monkeys, donkeys, and turtles would also be barred if the legislation is approved, and violators would be subject to heavy penalties.
Payam Mohebi, a senior member of Iran’s Society of Veterinarians, scoffed at the idea of such a varied list of animals being bunched together. “Definitely, in my view as a vet, a rabbit, a mouse, a crocodile, a dog, a cat, and a turtle cannot be classified in the same category in terms of being dangerous,” he told RFE/RL’s Radio Farda on November 18.
“Danger in what sense?” he asked, noting that in the case of exotic pets, such as crocodiles, certain health protocols are in place.
‘Unclean, Un-Islamic’
The authorities have attempted to introduce similar restrictions against household animals in recent years as the ownership of dogs and other pets has become more popular despite the clerical establishment’s arguments that keeping them inside homes is unhygienic and un-Islamic. Instances of people being attacked by stray dogs have also fueled calls for restrictions….
Iran’s parliament is floating legislation that would ban most household pets in the name of protecting the country from the dangerous influence of “unclean” animals.
Under the bill on the “protection of public rights against dangerous and harmful animals,” prepared by hard-line conservative lawmakers on November 17, Iranians would be barred from owning, breeding, and transporting dogs, cats, rabbits, and other common pets.
The keeping of “wild animals” such as snakes, lizards, crocodiles, mice, monkeys, donkeys, and turtles would also be barred if the legislation is approved, and violators would be subject to heavy penalties.
Payam Mohebi, a senior member of Iran’s Society of Veterinarians, scoffed at the idea of such a varied list of animals being bunched together. “Definitely, in my view as a vet, a rabbit, a mouse, a crocodile, a dog, a cat, and a turtle cannot be classified in the same category in terms of being dangerous,” he told RFE/RL’s Radio Farda on November 18.
“Danger in what sense?” he asked, noting that in the case of exotic pets, such as crocodiles, certain health protocols are in place.
‘Unclean, Un-Islamic’
The authorities have attempted to introduce similar restrictions against household animals in recent years as the ownership of dogs and other pets has become more popular despite the clerical establishment’s arguments that keeping them inside homes is unhygienic and un-Islamic. Instances of people being attacked by stray dogs have also fueled calls for restrictions….
