Non abbiamo motti fissi, alla casbah. Li scegliamo di volta in volta. L'ultima volta, comunque, la scelta è stata facile: "We do not want to publish the address of the Internet site where this film can be seen, in order to avoid propagating corruption in society" (siasat-e rouz & agence france presse, 11.6.07)
The Baran foundation of former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami issued a statement on Tuesday denying the cleric had intentionally shaken hands with women - as shown in footage of a recent trip to Italy broadcast on 'YouTube' - a gesture prohibited under Iran's strict interpretation of Islamic law banning all physical contact between men and women who are not related. The statement indicated either the footage had been edited to give a false impression or else Khatami had shaken the hands of people in a crowd without realising they were female.
The footage shows the president, who has been severely criticised by the conservative press in Iran for his 'immoral behaviour', speaking to and then exchanging a handshake with women including Gianola and Cristina Nonnino, well known local producers of grappa, or husk brandy, in the northeastern Italian city of Udine during a visit last month.
"In the crowd, it is possible a hand was shaken but the former president is against any physical contact between the sexes," said Sadegh Kharrazi, a former ambassador who accompanies Khatami in his international tours.
Khatami, a moderate cleric, was president of Iran from 1997 until 2005, when his ultraconservative successor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected.