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First Post
6 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
Why is Iran cracking down on dog-walking in public spaces?
Iran has expanded its ban on public dog-walking to over 25 cities, citing health, safety and morality concerns. With no national law outlawing pet ownership, local prosecutors are enforcing restrictions using penal codes. Critics argue the crackdown reflects deeper efforts to suppress personal freedoms and cultural shifts seen as un-Islamic by the regime read more An Iranian child looks at the dog as he walks, in Tehran, Iran, March 30, 2021. File Image/WANA via Reuters Iranian authorities have drastically widened restrictions on dog ownership and public pet activity by banning dog-walking in at least 25 cities across the country. While there is no nationwide legislation banning dog ownership outright, these local-level prohibitions are being enforced using Iran's penal provisions and religious-cultural rationale. The measures, first implemented in Tehran in 2019, have now become a countrywide trend. Judicial officials in numerous provinces have justified the crackdown by citing concerns over hygiene, safety, morality and social order. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The renewed focus on dog bans puts a spotight the Iranian state's enduring discomfort with what it considers Western cultural infiltration, and is a continuation of the post-1979 Islamic regime's efforts to suppress behaviours seen as un-Islamic or foreign in origin, reported AFP. How Iran is enforcing a ban on dog walking Over the past week, prosecutors and judicial officials in cities across Iran have imposed fresh restrictions against dog walking, including in Ilam, Kermanshah, Hamadan, Kerman, Boroujerd, Robat Karim, Lavasanat, Golestan, Kashmar and Khalkhal, among others. The restrictions follow a precedent set by Tehran in 2019, where police first issued a directive against walking dogs in public places. According to domestic news outlets, cities like Isfahan and Kerman recently joined the expanding list. In Isfahan, public prosecutor Mohammad Mousavian announced that the act of walking a dog is considered a violation of 'public rights' and that it jeopardises the 'health, comfort, and peace of citizens.' As per Mousavian's directive, all forms of dog walking — whether in public areas, parks or inside private vehicles — are now banned. 'Any form of dog walking in the city — whether in parks, public spaces, or vehicles — is prohibited and will be dealt with seriously,' he said. Law enforcement has been directed to confiscate vehicles transporting dogs and to shut down pet shops and unlicensed veterinary clinics. Authorities in Ilam echoed a similar position. According to local media, a city official said, 'Legal action will be taken against violators,' though further details were not provided. In Khalkhal, a city in Ardabil province, prosecutor Mozaffar Rezaei confirmed the prohibition, stating, 'Offenders will face consequences if they are seen walking dogs in parks, public spaces, or carrying them on their vehicles.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rezaei also stated that 'in addition to the financial and physical damages, religious rulings and cultural considerations must be taken into account, as this practice reflects the promotion of a Western lifestyle.' In Kashmar, a city in northeastern Iran, the public prosecutor declared that the purpose of the ban was to protect 'public hygiene and the physical and psychological safety of the public.' The reformist-leaning Faraz News reported that more than 20 cities had announced new restrictions over a single weekend. Despite the lack of a uniform national policy, local authorities have relied on articles from Iran's Penal Code and Constitution to impose these restrictions, notably Article 638 concerning public morality, Article 688 on threats to public health, and Article 40 which prohibits actions that cause harm to others. Why Iran is banning dogs in public spaces Iran's theocratic establishment has long opposed dog ownership, perceiving it as a sign of Westernisation and cultural deviation. Religious interpretations that classify dogs as najis, or ritually impure, underpin much of this opposition. Contact with dogs, especially their saliva, is viewed by many scholars as religiously unacceptable. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In 2017, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei weighed in on the issue, stating: 'Keeping dogs for reasons other than herding, hunting and guard dogs is considered reprehensible.' He added via Tasnim News Agency, 'If this practice resembles that of non-Muslims, promotes their culture or causes harm and disturbance to neighbours, it is deemed forbidden.' The religious establishment's influence on public lawmaking was also visible in 2021 when 75 lawmakers signed a letter denouncing dog ownership as a 'destructive social problem' that could 'gradually change the Iranian and Islamic way of life.' This echoed earlier efforts in 2010 when Iran's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance barred advertisements for pets or related products. In 2014, lawmakers introduced legislation that proposed fines or even corporal punishment for dog-walkers, though the bill failed to pass. The controversial 'Protection of the Public's Rights Against Animals' bill, first floated over a decade ago, also attempted to curb pet ownership. Dr. Payam Mohebi, president of the Iran Veterinary Association and a vocal critic of the draft law, noted, 'Over the years, they have changed this a couple of times and even discussed corporal punishment for dog owners. But their plan didn't get anywhere.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He also recalled earlier legislative proposals that sought to confiscate dogs and abandon them in deserts or hand them over to zoos. What that means for dog owners in Iran With the latest directives, police have been authorised to take more aggressive measures. Authorities have been instructed not only to confiscate dogs and impound vehicles but also to track and prosecute social media accounts promoting pet ownership or selling animals. Mousavian called on Iran's cybercrime units to dismantle such accounts and launch legal proceedings against those behind them. The justification given was that the bans were 'in response to serious public demands.' These developments come amid increasing reports of dog owners being fined, harassed or facing threats of eviction. In some cases, dogs have been confiscated or owners arrested for walking their pets in public. This video that I've received today made me angry. A young man being beaten up savagely by the police in Iran just because he resisted to give his dog away. His mother is trying to help him but see what happens. According to the laws in Iran, walking a dog in public is a crime. — Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) July 13, 2021 Given the heightened scrutiny, many citizens have started walking their dogs late at night or driving them around to avoid police detection. Despite these efforts, enforcement has remained inconsistent. In cities like Tehran, many residents continue to walk their pets in less visible locations, revealing the difficulty of fully enforcing the ban in urban environments where pet ownership has steadily grown. How pet ownership is evolving into a form of resistance in Iran Owning a pet — especially a dog — has, over time, evolved into a subtle form of resistance in Iran. For younger generations in particular, having a dog is a lifestyle choice that also expresses personal identity and rejection of rigid state norms. The act of walking a dog in public is increasingly being interpreted as a symbolic challenge to the state's attempts to control everyday life. This dynamic is comparable to other forms of passive resistance in Iran — such as violating the compulsory hijab, participating in underground gatherings, or consuming banned substances. All are behaviours that exist in legal grey areas and continue despite government disapproval. Public frustration is growing over what some perceive as misplaced priorities. Critics argue that with rising concerns over violent crime and economic instability, law enforcement should focus on genuine threats to public safety rather than cracking down on pet owners. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In Isfahan, a group of animal rights activists gathered outside the governor's office to protest what they alleged was municipal culling of stray dogs and called for a reversal of recent bans, reported Iran International. It remains uncertain how effective the government will be in curbing a social trend that continues to gain popularity, despite — or perhaps because of — official disapproval. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cruz escalates feud with ex-Iranian official working at Princeton: ‘You should be deported'
Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz escalated his war of words with a former Iranian regime official who, as a faculty member at Princeton, was reportedly making Jewish students feel uncomfortable amid global tensions. "I try not to be in the room with people linked to Iranian terrorists who have murdered dozens of dissidents," Cruz wrote in response to a lengthy post on X, formerly Twitter, from former Iranian Ambassador to Germany Seyed Hossein Mousavian. "Your books are unreadable, and the only debate you should be having is with DHS agents, at the end of which you should be deported," Cruz quipped. Mousavian was responding to a Fox News Digital story in which Cruz called on Princeton to fire him from his role as a Middle East security and nuclear policy specialist. Mousavian had been a spokesman for Iran during nuclear negotiations in the 2000s. Cruz Urges Princeton To Take Action Over Professor Accused Of Pro-iran Allegiances, Citing Risk To Students Mousavian had invited Cruz to publicly debate him so that the American people could judge the facts of the matter. Read On The Fox News App "If you do not accept this offer, I ask you to read some of the books and articles I have written over my 15 years of academic work at Princeton University," he wrote. "You will see that all of them focus on establishing peace between Iran and the United States, introducing a peaceful resolution of Iran's nuclear crisis based on NPT, avoiding dragging America into another devastating war in the Middle East, promoting peace, stability, and security in the Persian Gulf, and making the Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction." Schumer Kicks Off Planned Democrat All-nighter, Railing Against Trump's 100 Days: He's 'Being A Mob Boss' The ex-Tehran official said he had been arrested by Iran in 2007 and forced out of the country in 2009. Fox News Digital reached out to Cruz, Mousavian and Princeton University for comment. Cruz further discussed the matter on his podcast "Verdict," noting concerns about Mousavian's influence and the safety of Jewish students. Mousavian previously expressed support for Hamas and Hezbollah and attended the funeral of terrorist Qassem Soleimani – who had been killed in an attack ordered during President Donald Trump's first administration. In 2023, several top Republicans, including House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer of Kentucky and now-DOGE chairman Aaron Bean of Florida, wrote to Princeton with their concerns about Mousavian's tenure. The letter expressed how Mousavian had been the Berlin ambassador during a time when "a German court found [it] served as the headquarters for the planning of the 1992 assassination of four Iranian dissidents" at a Greek restaurant in the capital. "Did Princeton consult with U.S. government officials regarding the hiring of Mousavian?" they asked. Fox News Digital's Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this article source: Cruz escalates feud with ex-Iranian official working at Princeton: 'You should be deported'
Fox News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Cruz escalates feud with ex-Iranian official working at Princeton: ‘You should be deported'
Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz escalated his war of words with a former Iranian regime official who, as a faculty member at Princeton, was reportedly making Jewish students feel uncomfortable amid global tensions. "I try not to be in the room with people linked to Iranian terrorists who have murdered dozens of dissidents," Cruz wrote in response to a lengthy post on X, formerly Twitter, from former Iranian Ambassador to Germany Seyed Hossein Mousavian. "Your books are unreadable, and the only debate you should be having is with DHS agents, at the end of which you should be deported," Cruz quipped. Mousavian was responding to a Fox News Digital story in which Cruz called on Princeton to fire him from his role as a Middle East security and nuclear policy specialist. Mousavian had been a spokesman for Iran during nuclear negotiations in the 2000s. Mousavian had invited Cruz to publicly debate him so that the American people could judge the facts of the matter. "If you do not accept this offer, I ask you to read some of the books and articles I have written over my 15 years of academic work at Princeton University," he wrote. "You will see that all of them focus on establishing peace between Iran and the United States, introducing a peaceful resolution of Iran's nuclear crisis based on NPT, avoiding dragging America into another devastating war in the Middle East, promoting peace, stability, and security in the Persian Gulf, and making the Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction." The ex-Tehran official said he had been arrested by Iran in 2007 and forced out of the country in 2009. Fox News Digital reached out to Cruz, Mousavian and Princeton University for comment. Mousavian previously expressed support for Hamas and Hezbollah and attended the funeral of terrorist Qassem Soleimani – who had been killed in an attack ordered during President Donald Trump's first administration. In 2023, several top Republicans, including House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer of Kentucky and now-DOGE chairman Aaron Bean of Florida, wrote to Princeton with their concerns about Mousavian's tenure. The letter expressed how Mousavian had been the Berlin ambassador during a time when "a German court found [it] served as the headquarters for the planning of the 1992 assassination of four Iranian dissidents" at a Greek restaurant in the capital. "Did Princeton consult with U.S. government officials regarding the hiring of Mousavian?" they asked.
The National
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Israeli sabotage cannot be ruled out in port blast, former Iranian nuclear negotiator says
Israeli sabotage cannot be ruled out as the reason behind a massive oil port blast in southern Iran on the day the third round of indirect nuclear talks were taking place in Oman, a former Iranian top nuclear negotiator told The National. Seyed Hossein Mousavian, now a Middle East Security and Nuclear Policy Specialist at the Programme on Science and Global Security at Princeton University, is a former diplomat who served as Iran 's ambassador to Germany and was previously a spokesman for the country's nuclear negotiators. Saturday's incident, which killed at least 70 people in Bandar Abbas and injured 1,000 others, took place while Iranian and US technical experts were meeting in Muscat, less than 100km away from the southern Shahid Rajaee port, to hammer out the details of a potential nuclear agreement. Iranian officials have said the explosion occurred as a result of negligence. However, Israel's hawkish stance on Iran's nuclear programme and insistence on its complete dismantlement – something that Iran has outright rejected – calls for speculation on the true reasons behind Saturday's port explosion, Mr Mousavian indicated in an interview. "I have no doubt about [Benjamin] Netanyahu 's strategy to sabotage the nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran. Therefore, one cannot rule out the scenario that Israel may have carried out the explosions in Bandar Abbas, as Israel is very angry about the progress of the talks and will resort to any action to obstruct them," said the former official who has been involved "directly or indirectly" in Iran's nuclear scene for the past decades. Three rounds of talks have so far taken place in a "positive" environment, according to the different parties involved. With the fourth round of negotiations slated to take place this Saturday, as talks become deeper and delve into the more intricate and complex aspects of a potential agreement, Mr Mousavian said he believes there could be a path forward, if the US President Donald Trump does not succumb to "extremely intense" pressure from Israel. "We need to wait and see whether President Trump would be able to sideline Netanyahu or not," he stated, adding that Iran is ready to accept the most stringent methods of verification on its nuclear programme. Covert operations Over the past five years, Israel has intensified its covert operations against Iran, employing a blend of espionage, cyberattacks, and assassinations to disrupt Tehran's nuclear ambitions and regional influence. In May 2022, Colonel Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, a senior IRGC Quds Force officer, was assassinated in Tehran – a killing Iran attributed to Israel. Iran executed on Wednesday a man convicted of spying for Israel's Mossad intelligence agency and carrying out the assassination. Last year, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran by a bomb planted in his room, an operation reportedly orchestrated by Mossad with assistance from Iranian operatives. Israel's military strategy has also encompassed direct strikes on Iranian targets in Syria and Lebanon. Saturday's explosion was so powerful it was felt and heard about 50km away, Fars news agency said. It caused extensive damage in the area, with the roof of one building collapsing on employees. The blast shattered windows within a radius of several kilometres, Iranian media reported. Aerial images showed what appeared to be a disintegrated building next to the blast site and two craters measuring about 50 metres across. Other containers nearby were destroyed by the explosion and the intense blazes that followed. Tehran denied that any military equipment was being stored at the port near the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a fifth of global oil output passes. Israeli officials denied on Saturday any connection to the explosion at the port, which was a target of a major cyberattack in 2020 that caused traffic jams on waterways and roads leading to the site. According to Iranian officials, the talks with the US have so far not covered more sensitive issues, including Iran's ballistic missiles programme and its support for proxies across the region, like the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Mr Mousavi said Iran has an interest in supporting peace between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia – but will not stand in the way of the group's show of support to the Palestinians over Israel's attacks in Gaza.
The National
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Israeli sabotage cannot be ruled out in port blast, former Iranian nuclear negotiator tells The National
Israeli sabotage cannot be ruled out as the reason behind a massive oil port blast in southern Iran on the day the third round of indirect nuclear talks were taking place in Oman, a former Iranian top nuclear negotiator told The National. Seyed Hossein Mousavian, now a Middle East Security and Nuclear Policy Specialist at the Programme on Science and Global Security at Princeton University, is a former diplomat who served as Iran 's ambassador to Germany and was previously a spokesman for the country's nuclear negotiators. Saturday's incident, which killed at least 70 people in Bandar Abbas and injured 1,000 others, took place while Iranian and US technical experts were meeting in Muscat, less than 100km away from the southern Shahid Rajaee port, to hammer out the details of a potential nuclear agreement. Iranian officials have said the explosion occurred as a result of negligence. However, Israel's hawkish stance on Iran's nuclear programme and insistence on its complete dismantlement – something that Iran has outright rejected – calls for speculation on the true reasons behind Saturday's port explosion, Mr Mousavian indicated in an interview. "I have no doubt about [Benjamin] Netanyahu 's strategy to sabotage the nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran. Therefore, one cannot rule out the scenario that Israel may have carried out the explosions in Bandar Abbas, as Israel is very angry about the progress of the talks and will resort to any action to obstruct them," said the former official who has been involved "directly or indirectly" in Iran's nuclear scene for the past decades. Three rounds of talks have so far taken place in a "positive" environment, according to the different parties involved. With the fourth round of negotiations slated to take place this Saturday, as talks become deeper and delve into the more intricate and complex aspects of a potential agreement, Mr Mousavian said he believes there could be a path forward, if the US President Donald Trump does not succumb to "extremely intense" pressure from Israel. "We need to wait and see whether President Trump would be able to sideline Netanyahu or not," he stated, adding that Iran is ready to accept the most stringent methods of verification on its nuclear programme. Covert operations Over the past five years, Israel has intensified its covert operations against Iran, employing a blend of espionage, cyberattacks, and assassinations to disrupt Tehran's nuclear ambitions and regional influence. In May 2022, Colonel Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, a senior IRGC Quds Force officer, was assassinated in Tehran – a killing Iran attributed to Israel. Iran executed on Wednesday a man convicted of spying for Israel's Mossad intelligence agency and carrying out the assassination. Last year, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran by a bomb planted in his room, an operation reportedly orchestrated by Mossad with assistance from Iranian operatives. Israel's military strategy has also encompassed direct strikes on Iranian targets in Syria and Lebanon. Saturday's explosion was so powerful it was felt and heard about 50km away, Fars news agency said. It caused extensive damage in the area, with the roof of one building collapsing on employees. The blast shattered windows within a radius of several kilometres, Iranian media reported. Aerial images showed what appeared to be a disintegrated building next to the blast site and two craters measuring about 50 metres across. Other containers nearby were destroyed by the explosion and the intense blazes that followed. Tehran denied that any military equipment was being stored at the port near the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a fifth of global oil output passes. Israeli officials denied on Saturday any connection to the explosion at the port, which was a target of a major cyberattack in 2020 that caused traffic jams on waterways and roads leading to the site. According to Iranian officials, the talks with the US have so far not covered more sensitive issues, including Iran's ballistic missiles programme and its support for proxies across the region, like the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Mr Mousavi said Iran has an interest in supporting peace between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia – but will not stand in the way of the group's show of support to the Palestinians over Israel's attacks in Gaza. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said ballistic missiles "have not and will not" be part of discussions.
