Ananova UK (Press Association), London, 23 April 2003

Iranian actress faced flogging after public kiss

An Iranian actress has been handed a suspended sentence of 74 lashes for publicly kissing a male film director during an awards ceremony.

The Hambastegi newspaper said the court in the central city of Yazd suspended the sentence after Gohar Kheirandish, a veteran star of Iranian cinema, apologised for her public show of affection.

Kheirandish sparked protests from religious hardliners last November after kissing Ali Zamani on the forehead and shaking his hand when handing him an award for best film maker at a film festival in Yazd.

Physical contact between unmarried and unrelated men and women is strictly forbidden in Iran.