The President of Iran has been accused of indecency after he publicly kissed an elderly woman who used to be his school teacher.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was photographed and filmed by state media stooping to kiss the woman’s hand and then clasping her arms in an embrace, at a ceremony yesterday in honour of Iranian teachers’ day.

According to sharia law, it is forbidden for a man to have any physical contact with a woman to whom he is not related.

“The Muslim Iranian people have no recollection of such acts contrary to sharia law during Islamic rule,” seethed the ultra-conservative Hezbollah newspaper, on its front page.

“This type of indecency progressively has grave consequences, like violating religious and sacred values.”

The newspaper has no link to the Lebanese militant group of the same name.

The elderly woman, who was not named, wore thick gloves along with a headscarf and long black coat, meaning that Mr Ahmadinejad avoided any skin contact.

While the Iranian president is considered an ultra-conservative in the West, this is not the first time that he and his government have been attacked by hardline elements even further to the right along the political spectrum.

He courted controversy when he unsuccessfully proposed that women should be allowed to attend football matches. One of his vice presidents came under huge pressure last year after allegedly watching a woman dance at a ceremony in Turkey.

“This astonishing act by the president comes as the faithful have yet to forget his decision to allow women to watch football,” noted the Hezbollah newspaper.

However, other hardline publications published the images without further comment. “A kiss on the hand for the teacher,” was the headline in Iran, the government daily.

Ahmadinejad’s action appeared a public gesture of humility before Iranian teachers, who have publicly protested against low salaries and accused the government of not doing enough to improve their work conditions.

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