Navigating faith, stigma, and early guide dog mobility in a Muslim-Majority society

PURPOSE: This study investigates the cultural, structural, and religious barriers shaping guide dog use in Türkiye, a Muslim-majority society where institutional support and public awareness remain limited. As one of the first empirical studies examining guide dog partnerships in a Muslim-majority context, it addresses a gap in the global literature on disability, mobility, and assistive technologies. METHODS: Drawing on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with five legally blind guide dog users in Türkiye, the study employs qualitative phenomenological analysis informed by critical disability studies, affect theory, and cultural sociology. The analysis examines how guide dog partnerships are experienced within a sociocultural environment shaped by religious interpretations, urban infrastructure, and public attitudes towards disability. RESULTS: Findings show that guide dog partnerships are shaped not only by accessibility barriers but also by relational labour, religious perceptions, social stigma, and encounters with stray dogs in public spaces. Participants described guide dogs as emotional and social companions that supported independence, confidence, and public engagement. At the same time, handlers navigated misunderstandings about religious permissibility, limited institutional accommodations, and risks posed by urban stray dog populations. CONCLUSIONS: Guide dogs function not only as mobility aids but also as catalysts for increased visibility and social inclusion of visually impaired individuals. The findings highlight the need for culturally informed disability policy and public education while offering guidance for improving accessibility and institutional support for guide dog partnerships in Muslim-majority contexts.