犬や猫は危険な動物？　イランのペット禁止法案に批判と冷笑

【ＡＦＰ＝時事】「いいや、うちの猫は危険じゃない」──イランの超保守派議員が国会に提出したペット禁止法案に、首都テヘランの繁華街でペット用品店を営むムスタファさん（２５）は怒りを募らせている。「ワニは危険といえるだろう。しかし、ウサギや犬、猫のどこが危険なんだ？」（写真はテヘランの自宅で飼い犬と遊ぶ女性）
　ムスタファさんをあぜんとさせた法案は先月発表され、イランで増加しているペットの飼い主たちと、ペットを飼うことは退廃的だと考える人や、シャリア（イスラム法）に基づいて犬を豚と同じく不潔な存在だとみなす人たちとの間に対立を生んでいる。
　報道によると、「有害で危険な動物に関する住民の権利支持」と題した法案には最近、国会議員７５人が署名した。議員総数の４分の１に相当する。
　法案は冒頭で、人が家畜と一つ屋根の下で生活するのは「有害な社会問題」だと非難。「人と家族の関係が、動物に対する気持ちや情緒的関係に取って代わられる」ことにより、「イラン的かつイスラム的な生活様式が徐々に変わっていく」恐れがあると主張している。
　法案では、「野生動物、外来種、有害・危険な動物」の「輸入、飼育、繁殖と繁殖支援、売買、移送、車に乗せること、散歩、家庭内飼育」を禁止する。対象の動物として「ワニ、カメ、ヘビ、トカゲ、猫、ネズミ、ウサギ、犬などの不浄な動物、サル」を挙げている。
　違反者には、「最低月収」（約９８ドル、約１万１０００円）の１０～３０倍の罰金が科され、ペットは「没収」される。動物を車で運んだ場合、車両も３か月間押収される。
　法案はマスコミの批判を招き、ソーシャルメディアでも冷笑を買っている。ある人は、子猫の写真と共に「法案のことを知って、うちの猫を『犯罪者』に改名した」とツイッターに投稿した。
　テヘランの住民からは怒りの声が上がっている。愛犬家のミナさんは、「今の若いカップルに子どもがいないのは、犬を飼っているからだと国会議員は思っているのだろうが、ばかげている」と非難した。
　「私たちが子どもをもうけることができないのは、犬が理由じゃない。経済のせいだ」 【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/12/20-12:43）

No, my cat is not dangerous, says Iranian animal lover Mostafa, outraged by a proposal from ultraconservative lawmakers to ban pets.
The 25-year-old, who runs a pet supplies shop on busy Eskandari Street in downtown Tehran, is stunned.
Crocodiles can be called dangerous, but how can rabbits, dogs and cats be dangerous? he asked incredulously about the bill introduced a month ago.
The proposed law pits growing numbers of people with pets against those who consider the practice decadent and hold that under Islamic law dogs, like pigs, are unclean.
According to media reports, 75 MPs, or one quarter of parliamentarians, recently signed a text entitled Support for the rights of the population in relation to harmful and dangerous animals.
In their introduction, the authors condemn the practice of humans living under one roof with domesticated animals as a destructive social problem.
The phenomenon, they explain, could gradually change the Iranian and Islamic way of life by replacing human and family relationships with feelings and emotional relationships towards animals.
The proposed law would prohibit importing, raising, assisting in the breeding of, breeding, buying or selling, transporting, driving or walking, and keeping in the home wild, exotic, harmful and dangerous animals.
It lists the animals to be banned as crocodiles, turtles, snakes, lizards, cats, mice, rabbits, dogs and other unclean animals as well as monkeys.
- 'Chaos, corruption, disobedience' -
Offenders would risk a fine equivalent to 10 to 30 times the minimum monthly working wage of about $98 or 87 euros and the confiscation of the animal.
In addition, vehicles used to transport the animal would be confiscated for three months.
While Iran is engaged in difficult negotiations on its nuclear programme and enduring a painful economic downturn because of US sanctions, the bill has sparked criticism in the press, mockery on social networks and anger among residents of the capital.
These projects will certainly cause chaos, corruption and collective disobedience to this law because... living with animals is now a cultural phenomenon, warned the reformist daily Shargh.
Some internet users reacted with irony and sarcasm.
How many times have cats sought to devour you so that you consider them wild, harmful and dangerous? journalist Yeganeh Khodami asked on Twitter.
Another posted a photo of his kitten with the message: I have renamed my cat 'Criminal' since I heard this proposed law.
An actress who asked to remain anonymous said she had planned a demonstration against the pet ban plan in front of parliament but then dropped the idea because of pressure on her.
In the face of the public outcry, few parliamentarians are willing to strongly defend the bill.
I agree with the project in general, but I certainly disagree with some of its clauses, said the head of parliament's judicial commission, Moussa Ghazanfarabadi, who signed the text.
It is just a bill, but whether it succeeds is another matter, he told AFP.
- 'Animal rights, human rights' -
Another lawmaker from Tehran, the environmentalist Somayeh Rifiei, said she believes that a law is needed on which animals can be kept, and which cannot.
No one can deny the services that animals provide to humans, but this area must be regulated, she said. That is the basis of social life.
She said that, aside from the pet ban bill, the government has drafted a bill that gives special attention to biodiversity and wildlife. It deals with both animal rights and human rights.
Basically, I would prefer to see this bill on the agenda rather than a proposal that focuses only on criminalisation.
On Eskandari Street, vendors fear the consequences of any such law.
It might destroy thousands of jobs, said Mohsen, 34.
His wife Mina, said she was more worried about her dog.
Why should I imprison him at home? she said of her canine companion. The MPs probably assume that young couples today don't have children because they have a pet dog, but that's stupid.
It's not the dogs but the economic conditions that don't allow us to have children, she added.
At one time they banned satellite television, yet people continued to use it, but with fear and anxiety. People will keep their animals at home to protect them.