Iranian authorities expanded the ban and pet ownership restrictions, citing public health, social order and safety concerns
Iranian authorities have expanded a ban on walking dogs in public to multiple cities nationwide, citing public health, social order and safety concerns, domestic media reported on Sunday.
The ban – which echoes a 2019 police directive that barred walking dogs in Tehran – was expanded to Ilam city in the west on Sunday, according to reports.
At least 17 other cities introduced similar bans in recent days, including Isfahan in the centre and Kerman in the south.
Owning and walking dogs has been a contentious topic since the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran, though there is no law outright banning dog ownership.
