A novel “dog patting” campaign in Muslim-majority Malaysia, aimed at helping people overcome their fear of dogs, has triggered a controversy after Islamic scholars criticised it, prompting authorities to launch a probe.
The event “I want to touch a dog” held here on Sunday to encourage people to pat dogs, considered unclean in Islam, was attended by some 800 people including women and children, and nearly half of them were Muslims.
Islamic scholars on Tuesday said that while touching a dog is allowed in Islam under certain circumstances, they questioned the need for the campaign and its purpose.
The Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has also promised to conduct a probe on the programme.