It's rare for a cleric in Iran to attract a large following of adoring young fans on Instagram, but Sayed Mahdi Tabatabaei has done so by rescuing street dogs and cats in defiance of local taboos.
Defying Taboos: Beloved Iranian Cleric Rescues Animals
Iranian cleric Sayed Mahdi Tabatabaei cuddles an impaired dog at his shelter outside the city of Qom, 125 kilometers south of the capital, Tehran, on May 21. Tabatabaei has amassed over 80,000 followers on Instagram as he shares his heartbreaking stories of the abused and neglected dogs that he has treated at his shelter.
Tabatabaei established the Bamak Paradise shelter two years ago.
Iran's clerical establishment -- which has ruled the country since the 1979 Islamic Revolution -- views the keeping of dogs as a sign of Western decadence. According to Islamic teachings, dogs are regarded as impure animals. Many younger Iranians ignore such calls, as they do other religious edicts.
Iran's clerical establishment -- which has ruled the country since the 1979 Islamic Revolution -- views the keeping of dogs as a sign of Western decadence. According to Islamic teachings, dogs are regarded as impure animals. Many younger Iranians ignore such calls, as they do other religious edicts.
Tabatabaei, dressed in a Shi'ite black turban signifying he is a descendant of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, seeks to bridge the divide. "It’s pretty interesting and kind of weird for them to witness a religious figure doing this stuff," he said. "My videos seem to leave a good impression on people, too. They say they feel a wave of kindness, peace, and friendship coming through those videos."
Stray dogs eat outside Tabatabaei's shelter. In a society deeply divided over the role of religion in public life, Tabatabaei has become an unlikely advocate for animal rights. "Sadly, we still lack laws to protect animal rights, and there are no regulations in place to prevent animal cruelty," he adds.
Though the treatment of dogs varies in the Muslim world based on cultural, religious, and personal beliefs, dogs are often not welcomed in public areas in Iran and are sometimes abused. "We take in dogs with disabilities or impairments that cannot survive in the wild and have a hard time finding adoptive homes. Many of them are dogs I've personally assisted and nursed back to health. They stay here until they fully recover and regain their strength," Tabatabaei said.
Tabatabaei is also quite happy to care for cats. However, when pictures surfaced of him tending to dogs while wearing his clerical robes, a religious court ordered that he be defrocked. The ruling was later suspended. These days, he wears ordinary clothes while tending to the dogs.
Tabatabaei relies on donations from animal lovers in Iran and abroad, though funds have dried up in recent years. “I appeal to Western governments, particularly the U.S. government and others capable of influencing the lifting of sanctions, to consider making exceptions for organizations like ours that engage in humanitarian and peaceful endeavors," he said.
Many Iranians, especially young people, have expressed frustration with clerical rule, especially following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in custody of the morality police. Iranians posted videos online showing young men sneaking up behind clerics and batting their turbans off their heads. Despite the tensions, Tabatabaei remains a beloved figure in the country.
Tabatabaei shares a moment with a stray dog at his shelter. "He is very well-known and reliable. You are confident you can leave puppies with him and have peace of mind," said Zahra Hojabri who discovered a sick dog on the side of a road. She adds, "I think he is an angel, more than a human."