Police in the city of Tehran, the capital of Iran, have recently announced that walking dogs in parks is a crime. The pet ban has been justified as a measure intended to “protect the safety of the public”.
Currently, there is a new wave of arrests of pet owners and seizures of their animals in the city.
At the same time, the parliament of Iran might soon approve a bill for Protection of the Public’s Rights Against Animals, which would generally restrict pet ownership.
According to the proposed legislation, pet ownership would be subject to a permit issued by a special committee. There would also be a minimum fine of around $800 (790 euros or £670) for the “import, purchase and sale, transportation and keeping” of a range of animals, including common pets such as cats, turtles and rabbits.
Naija Philia! 