Sticker from Vafa Animal Shelter
'Persian Dogs' is about dogs in Iran under religious dilemma.
In traditional Islamic teachings (Sahih Hadith), the angels do not come when there is a dog around, and prayers are annulled by dogs.
While most consider dogs unclean, some Iranians, however, are fond of them. Having a dog at home became a symbol of rebellion and new thinking.
Conflict between traditional teachings and new ideas are hence reflected on this species.
Stray dogs does not exist on Tehran streets since they will be shot by police. I came across three cubs at an abandoned theme park (Eram Park) outside city centre.
Eram Park
Eram Park and Darabad Museum
Neighbourhood with pet dogs.
Vafa Animal Shelter
Vafa Animal Shelter takes good care of 700 dogs with 4 workers and few dozens of volunteers.
The site is far away from Tehran and has no readily available fresh water, natural gas, and electricity. The law does not protect shelters from any level of sabotage.
Vafa Animal Shelter
Vafa Shelter
Persian Dogs
波斯狗 2015
photographs, documents
About dogs in Iran under religious dilemma.
In traditional Islamic teachings (Sahih Hadith), the angels do not come when there is a dog around, and prayers are annulled by dogs.
While most consider dogs unclean, some Iranians, however, are fond of them. Having a dog at home became a symbol of rebellion and new thinking.
Conflict between traditional teachings and new ideas are hence reflected on this species. (Full text below)
波斯狗
2015
照片、文件
現今伊朗社會中，常可見伊斯蘭教義與新思想間的碰撞；而這些摩擦可反映在狗的處境上。德黑蘭街上幾乎看不到狗，因為警察在獲報後可將它們帶走或射殺。教條使狗難以存在，近年政府也曾意圖立法禁狗。聖訓曾提到：「若有狗在家附近，天使不會來…祈禱也會失效。」然而在北德黑蘭，不少富人喜歡養狗；養狗被視為是一種新潮宣告，好似染髮、隆鼻、穿華麗服飾等行為，但他們往往得因此和鄰居和親友過不去。動物收容所則是一個特殊的存在，不受法律保障；最大的收容中心Vafa在德黑蘭西北側荒漠中，三名員工和40位志工（多為富人），冒著被縱火、破壞的危險，在沒水、電、瓦斯的情況下，救治、收養700餘隻狗。
Nowadays in Iran, collisions between traditional Islamic teachings and new viewpoints are ubiquitous. The status of the Iranian (Persian) dogs reflects these conflicts. One can rarely see dogs on the streets of Tehran, since police will shoot them after they are reported. The teachings made it difficult for the dogs, and there were attempts to make ownership illegal in recent years. As stated in the Sahih Hadith “Angels will not enter a house wherein there is a dog … ”, “Prayer is annulled by a dog, … if they pass in front of the praying people.”
However, in northern parts of Tehran, lots of people enjoy having pet dogs. Most of them belong to the wealthier end of the social spectrum. In Iran, having a dog is often considered a statement of new thinkings, or a sign of rebellion, similar to dyeing hair, having a nose job or wearing fancy clothes. Yet oftentimes they have to put up with their neighbors or families. Animal shelters are peculiar existences; there are no laws to protect the shelters. The largest of them, Vafa Animal Shelter, situated in a deserted landscape, far away from Tehran. Three workers and 40 volunteers (mostly wealthy people) have been risking sabotage, while they recue and currently taking care of more than 700 dogs, without easily accessible water, electricity and natural gas.