In a peculiar twist of events, Iranian authorities have arrested the head of a real estate agency following the circulation of a viral video that depicted the firm selling an apartment to a dog. The canine purchaser, named “Chester,” has sparked a heated controversy about dog ownership in the predominantly Muslim nation.
The widely shared video portrayed an Iranian couple signing a contract that transferred their apartment’s ownership to their small-breed dog, “Chester.”
Remarkably, with the assistance of a woman, “Chester” located his paws on an ink pad, following which the contract was printed. In the video, the woman explained that due to the absence of heirs, the couple chose to sell their apartment to their beloved pet.
Although there is no explicit law prohibiting dog ownership in Iran, Islamic beliefs generally label dogs as unclean. Conservative clerics in the country have often advised against keeping them as pets.
swift action from Iranian authorities
Meanwhile, the contentious video prompted swift action from Iranian authorities. The police initiated an investigation into the matter, according to the ISNA news agency.
Deputy Prosecutor General Reza Tabar disclosed, “The police arrested the head of the real estate agency and closed the firm on Saturday.” Tabar stated that the sale attempted to “normalize the violation of the society’s moral values” and lacked “any legal basis.”However, authorities have not yet identified the apprehended realtor.
Iran’s real estate market has witnessed a growing trend of pet ownership, particularly among the upper and middle classes who have embraced the concept of having dogs and cats as companions.
This shift in attitudes toward pet ownership has clashed with traditional beliefs concerning dogs’ status in Iranian society.
The incident has sparked renewed discussions about dog ownership regulations in Iran and whether it is time for a more comprehensive legal framework to address the matter.
The impact of the unusual property transaction on the ongoing debate over pet ownership in the nation is yet to be set, but it undeniably thrusts the issue into the national spotlight.
