Iran Sets Sights On New Enemy: Pooches

Iranian authorities have implemented a ban in the capital on walking dogs and transporting them in cars, amid a backlash from religious conservatives. Police chief Hossein Rahimi announced that he “received permission from the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office…[to] take measures against people walking dogs in public spaces” due to their “creating fear and anxiety” among the public. Penalties include the possible confiscation of animals and fines. According to Islamic doctrine, dogs are considered “unclean” and are sometimes referred to in Arabic as “najis,” a religious term denoting any object that through contact brings Muslims into a state of ritual impurity.