He has championed the cause of the most extreme movements in Islam and cast himself as the devout disciple of the late Iranian revolutionary leader, Ayatollah Khomeini.

But President Ahmadinejad of Iran yesterday found himself accused of breaking Islamic law with an “indecent” public act, after he could not resist embracing and kissing the hand of his former primary school teacher, an elderly woman, at an impromptu reunion.

“This type of indecency has grave consequences, like violating religious and sacred values,” thundered the conservative Hezbollah newspaper, which described the incident as unprecedented in the 28-year Iranian revolution. Islamic law forbids men touching women to whom they are not related. Although in private these rules are often ignored by Iranians, strict adherence by officials is expected.

Najmeh Gholi Pour, the object of Mr Ahmadinejad’s affection, was attending a Teachers’ Day ceremony when he embraced her before kissing her hand before a TV crew.

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