Conservative journals in Iran criticized the former president,Mohammad Khatami,for having shaken hands with several women in Italy.There is a video film on YouTube that shows he is shaking hands with a few ladies.The film was visited about 17000 times.Khatami's office talks about conspiracy against him and said he did not shake hands with women. Many clerics and religious people in Iran do not shake hands with a non-Mahram lady because it is considered a sin.A man is Mahram to his wife, daughter, sister, mother, and a few other relatives.Khatami's vice president,Mohmmad Ali Abtahi [Fa]writes in his blog that Khatami did not even shake hands with Mrs.Merkel when she was an opposition leader a few years ago.