Report: Iranian jihad includes dogs now
posted at 3:16 pm on September 15, 2007 by Allahpundit
I’m mildly suspicious. Not because I think they wouldn’t do it — Basij fanatics used to go around shooting dogs in the street and prominent clerics were calling for mass arrests as recently as five years ago — but because it comes from Radio Free Europe and at a time when tensions between the U.S. and Iran are peaking. It’s so spectacular as propaganda that it’s almost too bad to be true. Dissident Iranian blogger Kamangir wrote about it a few days before RFE got to the story, though, and even posted photos of what he claims are the “jails” where the dogs are being held; add to that the fact that the regime has been extra nutty lately in enforcing Islamic “standards” and there must be something to it. It’s strange but true that with all the illustrations of the mullahs’ cruelty to choose from, this is one of the most affecting:
In the past, dog owners have received warnings or were forced to pay fines for having a pet dog. Despite such harassment, dog ownership has increased over the years, especially among young people in Tehran.
One of them is 23-year-old Banafshe, whose dog was recently detained in Tehran for 48 hours and then released on bail. Banafshe says she was walking her young puppy, Jessica, when Iranian police snatched the dog and took her to a dog “jail.” The dog’s crime was “walking in public.”
Banafshe claims the police insulted her, but out of fear for her dog, she didn’t protest. She said she told the police that Allah says in the Koran that nothing bad has been created in this world.
“They said, ‘We want to get rid of Western culture,’” Banafshe said. “They said, ‘You live in an Islamic country, it’s not right to have dogs. Are you not Islamic? Why does your family allow you to own a dog?’ They insulted me, they even told me that they hope my dog will die. But there was nothing I could do but cry. You can’t imagine how badly I was insulted.”
The new clampdown on dogs follows a recent order by the head of Tehran’s security forces, Ahmad Reza Radan, who said it is against the law for dogs to walk in public. The order has left many people baffled.
Nadja, whose sick dog was arrested right after it had surgery, considers the clampdown on dogs ridiculous. “One day it’s dogs, the next day it’s [crime prevention], tomorrow they have to catch birds. The police themselves must be laughing at this,” Nadja said.
Keep it up, turds. Every little bit of senseless repression helps.
Blowback
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The pictures are weird. Aren’t they? The dogs, while in dirty conditions, don’t really appear to be mistreated. I was waiting for a smoking gun (gruesome pictures, overstuffed cages, something) when this was in the headlines this week, but a small dog sittin’ outside? Hmm.
lorien1973 on September 15, 2007 at 3:19 PM
Pictures with no context, at that.
lorien1973 on September 15, 2007 at 3:20 PM
The only hope is that the good people of Iran get fed up and revolt soon against their ‘masters’. Nothing would be better for the entire region, and humanity/the animal kingdom.
Entelechy on September 15, 2007 at 3:25 PM
Yeah, for all I know those were taken at an animal shelter. Still, the fact that he had the story before RFE suggests they’re not making it up wholesale.
Allahpundit on September 15, 2007 at 3:41 PM
I don’t think it’s really that strange. The relationship that has evolved between humans and dogs is unique. Domesticated dogs depend on humans for practically everything they need. In return, they display an incredible level of devotion and loyalty. When humans abuse this relationship, it is an unforgivable act of betrayal. Just ask Michael Vick.
RedWinged Blackbird on September 15, 2007 at 3:44 PM
Just what isn’t Islamic in Iran anymore? Nature?
Kini on September 15, 2007 at 3:46 PM
a couple of months ago there was a short artical in a blog telling about the iranian religeous police and thier obnoxious conduct.
it appears as though three or four of them laid hands on a young lady who had done something horrible like letting her shadow fall on the ground.
to all appearances she was a black belt of one of the martial arts cause she knocked the doggy doo out of all of these fellows and dissappeared like smoke into the crowd.
they need more like her.
C
pk on September 15, 2007 at 4:14 PM
http://www.islamqa.com/index.php?ref=377&ln=eng&txt=dog
Question:
ALSALAAM ALAIKUM
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT KEEPING PETS IN THE HOUSE.I KNOW THAT THE KALB(DOG)IS CONSIDERED NIJASA, BUT I DON’T KNOW WHY.
I REMEMBER A SECTION IN THE Qur’an WHERE THE PROPHET PEACE BE UPON HIM ONCE GAVE A THIRSTY DOG WATER TO DRINK OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.
COULD YOU PLEASE ELABORATE.
THANK YOU
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
According to Islaamic Sharee’ah, it is not permitted to keep a dog except within narrowly-defined limits, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) explained: “Whoever keeps a dog, his good deeds will decrease every day by one qeeraat (a unit of measurement), unless it is a dog for farming or herding.” According to another report: “. . . unless it is a dog for herding sheep, farming or hunting.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 2322)
Dogs are extremely naajis (impure, unclean). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If a dog drinks from the vessel of any one of you, let him wash it seven times” (reported by Muslim, no. 279). According to another report: “. . . and clean it the eighth time with earth.” (Saheeh Muslim, no. 280).
It is forbidden in Islaam to sell a dog and to receive payment for it, as is reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaari from Abu Mas’oud al-Ansaari: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade (accepting) the price of a dog. (al-Fath, no. 2237)
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us not to resemble dogs by placing our forearms on the ground during sujood (prostration), as in reported in the hadeeth narrated by Anas ibn Maalik, according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do sujood properly; none of you should spread his forearms like a dog does.” (al-Bukhaari, Fath, no. 822).
Whoever keeps a dog in his house is denied the blessing of the angels’ presence in his house, as the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 3225).
Keeping dogs nowadays is the habit of the kuffaar, who adopt them as friends, kiss them, let them lick them and their clothes, sleep with them and even leave them money in their wills. Keeping a dog is an imitation of the kuffaar. Some Muslims may claim that they need to keep a dog at home for purposes of protection, to which we respond that nowadays there are burglar alarm systems and other measures one may take for security purposes, and there is no need to keep a dog, praise be to Allaah.
It only remains for us to say that the fact that it is forbidden to keep a dog and interect closely with it does not mean that we should not be kind or feel compassion towards dogs if we see them in a pitiful state. These are two entirely separate matters. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us that “a man saw a dog biting the dust because of thirst, so he took his shoe and started to scoop water up with it until the dog’s thirst was quenched. Allaah appreciated his good deed and granted him entry to Paradise for it.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, no. 174).
According to another report, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whilst a man was walking he became very thirsty, so he went down to a well and drank from it. When he came out, he saw a dog panting and biting the soil because of thirst. The man said, ‘He is suffering the same as I suffered,’ so he filled his shoe (with water), came out and let the dog drink until his thirst was quenched. Allaah appreciated his good deed and forgave him because of it.” The people asked, “O Messenger of Allaah, will we be rewarded for how we treat animals?” He said, “In every living thing there is a reward.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath, no. 2363).
We do not want to omit reminding you of the importance of reading the Qur’aan properly and referring to it. You say in your question that the story of the thirsty dog is in the Qur’aan, and that is not the case, as it is reported in the Sunnah.
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
VinceP1974 on September 15, 2007 at 4:20 PM
AP,
Do you have any recent examples — or any examples, really — of RFE outright fabricating stories?
Karl on September 15, 2007 at 4:24 PM
The guy in the photo petting the dog is just beggin’ for some lashes…
eeyore on September 15, 2007 at 4:49 PM
I hope that the Iranians get real serious about eliminating cats & then we can laugh at their rat problem.
thuja on September 15, 2007 at 5:24 PM
Didn’t Ahm-a-nutjob (try to)ban dogs in Tehran when he was mayor?
TBinSTL on September 15, 2007 at 8:30 PM
Iran: Man bites dog.
BKennedy on September 15, 2007 at 9:59 PM
My grandparents had border collies,my family had
a border collie for 14 years,till last year,rest her soul,
they are smart,beautiful dogs.
This to me looks orwellian,every aspect of Iranian life
seems to be slaved to the koran as we know.
Whats next!
canopfor on September 15, 2007 at 10:02 PM
My collie says:
Stupid dog.
CyberCipher on September 15, 2007 at 10:30 PM
Dogs ARE dirty. Take if from me. Up till a month ago I owned two. They were family members but they shed like crazy and brought their muddy feet into the house. So, yes, they are dirty. But, I would do anything to get my dear darling Babs back with all her filth and shedding… We had to put her down and I miss her terribly.
What do the Immams have to say about that?
Babs on September 15, 2007 at 11:08 PM
Odd, that the people who gave us the Persian cat are anti-dog. If there was ever a more useless domesticated animal than a Persian cat, I am unaware of it. I don’t even know if they are decent mousers.
I’ll take my dogs any day of the week.
Krydor on September 16, 2007 at 10:37 AM
Wait until it dawns on the Mullahs in Iran that smoking is un-Islamic. Every bit of wood on the fire under the pressure cooker until…..kaboom.
mustng66 on September 16, 2007 at 11:56 AM