Culture

Khatami’s Losing Hand

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Former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami announced he will not run for president in the 2009 election, despite his popularity as a reformist candidate, following a scandal over an incident in Italy when he shook hands with a woman.

Such handshakes are generally forbidden under Islam except for between family members. Khatami denied the incident took place even as a video circulated on YouTube.

Radical clerics have circulated a petition calling for Khatami to be defrocked, and posters of Khatami have been defaced. Supporters see his decision to not run as capitulation to extremists.

Source:

“Handshake picture deals election blow to Iranian reformist”
Guardian (U.K.), August 3, 2007

4 thoughts on “Khatami’s Losing Hand”

  1. Did he know it was forbidden? was he the victim? He should run for president again just one last time brfore he just quits on such a big deal as being the president of cuba. Im just trying to convince him to try one last time. Who knows this time could be the charm. I dont know how many times he has failed, but he sounds like a very good person and I have faith in him to just try one last time. This is just coming from a 12 year old but i think i have made my point and if he loses, well hey, at least he tried one last time to do his best.

  2. Did he know it was forbidden? was he the victim? He should run for president again just one last time brfore he just quits on such a big deal as being the president of cuba. Im just trying to convince him to try one last time. Who knows this time could be the charm. I dont know how many times he has failed, but he sounds like a very good person and I have faith in him to just try one last time. This is just coming from a 12 year old but i think i have made my point and if he loses, well hey, at least he tried one last time to do his best.

  3. He should run for president again just one last time brfore he just quits on such a big deal as being the president of cuba. Im just trying to convince him to try one last time. Who knows this time could be the charm. I dont know how many times he has failed, but he sounds like a very good person and I have faith in him to just try one last time. This is just coming from a 12 year old but i think i have made my point and if he loses, well hey, at least he tried one last time to do his best.