Confiscation of Pet Dogs in Shahinshahr; Police and Prosecutor Deny Reports

Following reports of the confiscation of pet dogs in Shahinshahr, Isfahan by police officers, a responsible official from the Isfahan police command denied this issue, and the prosecutor of Shahinshahr stated that no order had been issued regarding this matter. According to the state news agency IRNA, Jahangir Karimi, the social deputy of the Isfahan police command, said on Sunday, July 6, that the news about police officers entering homes in Shahinshahr 'to confiscate pet dogs,' given the denial of this order by the Shahinshahr prosecutor, 'lacks validity.' He added: 'Since the basis for police activity is a judicial order and the prosecutor also states that no order has been issued, then the police have not taken any action.' Mohsen Bousaeidi, the public and revolutionary prosecutor of Shahinshahr, also said: 'With pet dog owners who have private complaints, we will act according to the law, but no order without a complaint has been issued by this prosecutor's office to visit homes and collect dogs.' Last Wednesday, reports emerged about police officers visiting some homes in Shahinshahr, and subsequently, news about 'the confiscation of 20 to 30 pet dogs by the order of the prosecutor of this city' and 'abandoning them in the surrounding deserts' received significant attention. One Shahinshahr citizen reported to the newspaper Shahrvand that officers from the police's places department visited his home with a 'judicial order' and took his dog. These officers said, 'Forget about seeing your dog... If you have questions, go to the prosecutor's office.' The newspaper Shahrvand reported that this incident occurred after the Shahinshahr prosecutor threatened to take action against keeping dogs at home. According to this report, three days before this incident, the Shahinshahr prosecutor stated that 'according to the opinion of prominent jurists, keeping and caring for dogs is forbidden, and therefore, if we become aware that an individual or individuals are keeping or caring for pet dogs that promote the vulgar Western culture, we will deal with them severely without any hesitation or leniency.' In this regard, Seyed Javid Al Davood, head of the Iranian Animal Rights Association, reported sending a letter to the head of the judiciary, stating that 'entering citizens' homes to confiscate personal property without due process and legal proceedings is illegal.' According to Mr. Al Davood, 'the confiscated dogs are personal property of individuals and are often trained for guarding, so optimal care and return of them without causing damage to this property should be done promptly.' The Islamic Republic's law enforcement officials threaten each year before the summer season and simultaneously with the implementation of plans titled 'moral security' that they will take action against carrying dogs in the streets, but Iranian media have referred to the Shahinshahr incident and the confiscation of dogs from homes as an 'unprecedented' event.