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