Iran's Islamic regime shunned dogs for a long time, but they have become popular pets among the upper and middle classes.
An Iranian real estate agent has been arrested and his business shut down after he brokered a deal in which a couple handed over the deeds to their home to their dog.
A video of the deal was widely circulated, prompting anger among conservatives who consider domestic dogs a symbol of Western decadence.
The footage shows the couple signing documents as the animal, named Chester, puts its paws on an ink pad with the help of a woman before the contract is stamped. The owners of a white small-breed dog said they wanted to give their apartment to the dog because they have no heirs.
It was reported on Sunday that the Iranian police arrested the head of a real estate agent and closed his business. His name has not been released.
The court system website Mizan Online quoted Reza Tabar, Deputy Attorney General, as saying that the sale of the apartment to the dog was intended to «normally violate the moral values of society» and «do not had legal grounds.”
Iran's Islamic regime has long shunned dogs, but they have become popular pets among the upper and middle classes. The regime sees this as a symbol of the West's decadent influence.
Hardliners in the government are pushing for laws to prevent people from walking dogs in public, or even owning one.
The appearance of dogs in public can cause fury among those who support the Islamic regime, especially given that there is already a ban on walking with them in public parks.
Last summer, a wave of arrests against dog owners and confiscation of their pets in Tehran, the capital as the government was considering a bill that would severely restrict pet ownership.
Before the 1979 Islamic revolution, dogs were a beloved and common sight throughout the country. . The royal family kept pets and the country was one of the first in the region to pass animal protection laws, but now dog food has to be smuggled into the country.
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