17 cities in Iran have banned the walking of pet dogs, calling them "a threat to public health"

Walking pet dogs is banned in nearly 20 cities in Iran for reasons of hygiene and public order. Dogs are considered unclean in Islam, and while their ownership is not banned, some religious leaders see it as a symbol of Western influence. Although a similar directive has existed in Tehran since 2019, it is not enforced. In 2021, 75 MPs proposed a law condemning pet ownership as a social problem.