Is the act seen in the photo at right indecent?  The act in question is of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad kissing the hand of one of his former teachers at a ceremony held in Tehran to honor Iranian teachers.  It’s a holiday in Iran.

I certainly don’t believe it’s indencent, however ultra-hardliners in Iran are quick to point out it’s against Sharia to touch a woman whom they are not related to.

“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.”

“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.

The London Times notes the teacher was wearing thick gloves so Ahmadinejad never actually touched the woman on the skin, which begs the question if there is a loophole in Sharia to allow groping through clothes, gloves or bubbles.

What connection this heinous act by Ahmadinejad has to women watching soccer (football for the non-Yanks) I don’t know.  I suppose it is seen as Ahmadinejad giving women rights and treating them more as equals even though his government has banned ‘Western’ hairdos, clothing and satellites.