Saudi Pet Ban

July 31, 2008: Religious police in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh have announced a ban on the selling of cats and dogs, as well as appearing in public with a pet. The pretext for the ban was reports of men using pets to instigate flirting with women.¹

Fast Facts

1. Violators will have their pets confiscated¹
2. Repeat offenders will face prosecution¹
3. Pet stores were reported to still be operating after the start of the ban¹
4. Dogs are considered unclean in Islam²
5. Cats, on the other hand, are said to have been favored by the prophet Muhammad³
6. Saudi religious police force: Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice

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