Animals, Criminal law, International, Religion, Society

Iranian Dog Torture Video Sparks Outrage

blind_dog250px-flag_of_iransvgWe have previously discussed violence and legal measures targeting dogs by some Muslims who view canines as “unclean.” Even postcards with dogs and service dogs (and here) have raised the ire of some Muslim groups. Now this issue is getting some long-needed attention in Iran after a short film that showed stray dogs being tortured and killed by having acid injected into them.

The video was taken an industrial area of Shiraz, 900 kilometres south of Tehran. The animal activists claimed that those responsible paid $4 for each dog. As with environmentalists in China, I have always had overwhelming respect and admiration for secularists and animal (particularly dog) advocates in Muslim countries. This is more than an impressive commitment to principle but putting your actual life on the line for those principles.

The good news is that the Iranian government is acting on the video. While there was an effort to criminalize the ownership of dogs under Sharia law (and subject dog owners to up to 74 lashed last year), Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar has called for an investigation into the video. While she referred rather mildly to the practice as “an immediate end to unconventional population control method[] for stray dogs,” she did call upon the interior ministry to “deal with the criminals responsible”.

Some Iranian celebrities like Ali Karimi, once a star on Iran’s national football team, posted a picture with his two dogs on Instagram and the message “Dogs are the kindest domestic animals. I hope those who, under any excuse, did this to these animals get what they deserve.”

461 thoughts on “Iranian Dog Torture Video Sparks Outrage”

  1. Calm down Issac.

    We know what frightens you; no need to flog a dead horse.

  3. OK, then, next, teachers with guns, your average guy with guns, road rage, etc. The statistics available for the US and our peer nations prove that the direction the US has been taking results in more deaths by guns, more violence, and a less safe society. But, hey that is just the rest of the world. How could that figure in this delusional picture supported by one or two events in the memories of a few people.

    It is a disease and some propose treating the disease in an attempt to get rid of it. This will take time. Others say take an aspirin and slap a bandaid on it.

    1. issac – I have a theory about our violence. This country was built by people who were adventurous or were sent here as criminals. Or were sent here as captives of war. As such, these people are risk-takers. More likely to commit crime, be violent, etc.

      Now, the Swiss stayed at home and stole everyone’s gold and art. However, there is some thought that the Swiss are the remnants of a group of warriors who founded their own country.

  4. Isn’t it predictable how the same people will always, and I do mean ALWAYS, respond to the topic at hand, if it somehow speaks to the horrors taking place in the Islamic world, by changing subjects and talking about gun violence or some other out of the blue subject? The old WHAT ABOUT THIS WRONG and WHAT ABOUT THAT WRONG? Who is speaking about guns? This article deals with capturing dogs and injecting them with acid. If you don’t like the topics chosen by JT, there’s a solution. Stop reading them. In the meantime, try sticking to the subject at hand. By failing to address the atrocities mentioned in the article, you show yourself to be one who implicitly supports this barbaric treatment.

    1. bam bam –

      By failing to address the atrocities mentioned in the article, you show yourself to be one who implicitly supports this barbaric treatment.

      I call BS. As in any dialogue the subject changes many times. One thing reminds you of another time which reminds the other person of something else, etc. You may start out talking about shoes and end up talking about gas prices in CA. A conversation is a living thing.

  5. I am more concerned by the guy who comes charging into Safeway waving the gun.

    About 10 years ago, in our little town, we had a guy come into the local grocery store (not Safeway ) in a fit of rage at this wife who was a checker there. Marital dispute and really nasty divorce going on. He shot her point blank in the face and then attempted to take hostages. Fortunately, one of the potential hostages had a cc permit and took him down.

    Thankfully, since the response time in this area is not just minutes away but likely a half hour or more.

    I am not about to send a good on you memo to Safeway. I don’t agree with them.. That is their corporate choice. It is the choice of those who don’t agree with them (me) to not shop there anymore.

    I don’t slap on a side arm to go shopping, however we are able to be armed in our home on our property and are protected when traveling or out in the woods.

    I trust the LEGAL gun owner who has taken the time to get the proper permits and safety training (as required in my State) to be able to protect me in a situation like above…….more than some random deranged person who has an illegal gun.

    1. DBQ – Don’t shop at Safeway’s anyway so my boycott will mean nothing. 🙂

  6. This is an important topic and has a legal aspect to it. Those who kill dogs kill God. God spelled backwards is Dog. God put Dog on Earth on the 8th Day to Watch Over Humans and Give Them Guidance. Those who kill dogs kill the guide. Of course many Muslims are blind to many things. Many Xtians are blind to many things. When these dog abusers in Iran die and have their interview at the Pearly Gates they will get sent back to Earth as dogs in Morocco and Iran and end up hanging upside down by their feet in some butcher shop for purchase by a so called human for food. Those who dine on dogs will end up as dogs and the cycle is endless. If we get a dog from the middle east and put him/her on the Dogalogue Machine they speak in the local language from whence they came. The machine can translate. Many Muslim clerics end up as dogs in their next life. Bin Laden is hanging on a dog hook in Morocco as we speak. If you folks don’t believe me, ask your dogs.

  7. Issac,perhaps you have not read the stories about armed civilians who have stopped some idiot with a gun in the middle of his rampage before mor people were hurt.
    Maybe you should also as Paul suggested pull the stats and while you are at it, also pull the stats of police shootings of unarmed civilians, Maybe you should fear them too.

  9. “Prof. Turley, Is this a topic even worthy on coverage on your blog!! We in USA seem to love dogs more than we love people and certainly other animals. You want to cover animal torture, maybe you should address the slaughtering of cattle and how it is done in the USA as maybe a worthy topic.”

    Maybe the supposedly secular US should ban Kosher and Halal slaughter without pre-stunning. And dogs are certainly more lovable than people, while people certainly don’t love each other very much. For example:

    http://www.theoccidentalobserver.net/2015/04/good-war-better-peace/

  10. JT, here’s something worthy of your blog.

    Weak gun laws in most states mean that virtually anyone can openly carry loaded weapons without any permits, training or background checks. I just sent a message thanking Safeway for their policy that asks customers to leave their guns at home. It’s a common-sense policy that will make all shoppers and families safer.

    But some extremists are attacking Safeway for this stance. That’s why we need to send as many messages to Safeway leadership to remind them that they made the right choice.

    Join me by sending a message to Safeway leadership right now:

    http://every.tw/1GOoIul

    Thanks for sending a message to Safeway to let them know you appreciate their policy prohibiting open carry in stores!

    When companies like Safeway make gun sense a priority, we have to let them know we’ll have their backs — in as big a way as possible.

    Share this action with your friends and family right now, and tell them to send a message of support:

    Someone who wants to slap on a side arm and go shopping is missing a few screws along with the many that are loose. The ones wearing side arms are the most dangerous and the ones that should not be able to get close to weapons. Kind of logical.

    1. issac – can you pull the stats on the number of people accidentally shot by people who are walking around legally armed. I am more concerned by the guy who comes charging into Safeway waving the gun.

  11. We in USA seem to love dogs more than we love people and certainly other animals.

    This is because dogs and other animals are often more worthy of love and consideration than many people are.

    The people featured in this story are not worthy of living in this world with even the lowliest of leeches. I also agree with Ali Karimi and hope that they get what they deserve.

  12. To put this in perspective, stories of mass dog poisonings in Israel

    http://www.chai.org.il/en/campaigns/campaigns_strychnine_i.htm

    “Our dog ran into the house, desperate, probably hoping we could help her,” a soldier recalled, his voice shaking with emotion. “She was in such pain, she couldn’t stop. She ran through the house and out the back door. We never saw her alive again. How can I teach my son the importance of living by positive values when he sees the authorities routinely strychnine poisoning people’s companion animals?”

    “I’ll never have another dog in my home,” affirmed a mother. “I can’t ever again watch what my children went through when they came home from school and found our beloved dog poisoned on our front lawn. It was horrible.”

    — Families in Israel whose dogs were poisoned, speaking out on an early CHAI video

    An estimate by a government source puts the number of strychnine pellets provided to municipal veterinarians annually at 30,000–40,000, with two pellets per dog the usual dose. Companion animals, as well as strays, suffer and die from the cruel poison set out in baits, which remain potent for years. Improperly disposed of doses, and doses workers fail to pick up when they are left uneaten, cause slow, painful death to other animals.

    Background

    CHAI has worked since its inception in 1984 to replace the mass strychnine poisonings of animals in Israel with humane measures. CHAI imported sodium pentobarbital to replace use of the poison at municipal pounds; provided letters from veterinary pathologists around the world to the Supreme Court, stating that the strychnine-like poison used on cats, alpha chloralose (tardemon), is inhumane; and encouraged vets from outside Israel to condemn the poisonings, including at an international veterinary conference held in Jerusalem.

  13. There are far more important issues out there, JT. This doesn’t even have a legal maze to navigate.

    1. Issac

      As I just said to Po, this is a disgusting issue, If it was a Policeman doing a dog in in the USA you would be right on the bandwagon

  14. None of us are responsible for our actions. Given that the Almighty knows everything that will occur, our sense of free will must be an illusion. S/he cannot be surprised or influenced. All that will occur must occur, despite anyone’s intentions. (particularly if you believe in a multi-verse).

  16. Just last week Iran was chanting Kill Israel, Kill America. Now they can add Kill Dogs.

  17. Prof. Turley, Is this a topic even worthy on coverage on your blog!! We in USA seem to love dogs more than we love people and certainly other animals. You want to cover animal torture, maybe you should address the slaughtering of cattle and how it is done in the USA as maybe a worthy topic.

    On the other hand any Iran bashing gets good coverage!!

    1. Po, Prof Turley points out any injustice. What is the point of you jumping on this inparticular injustice? The Globe has become a small place and this is gross.

  20. Barbarians.

    And we think that we can trust them to honor a treaty.

    Shows how stupid the Obama administration is.

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