By Steve Robson PUBLISHED: 03:58 EST, 12 March 2013 | UPDATED: 07:44 EST, 12 March 2013 A photo of Iranian President Ahmadinejad hugging Hugo Chavez's mother at the late Venezuelan leader's funeral has sparked controversy among conservative Muslim clerics. The image shows Ahmadinejad and Elena Frias de Chavez touching cheeks during a moment of shared grief. But religious conservatives say his actions are 'sinful' under Islamic doctrine which forbids Muslim men from touching women outside their immediate family. Controversy: This photo of President Ahmadinejad closely embracing Elena Frias de Chavez was slammed by religious conservatives in Iran They claim the act insulted Iran's religious dignity and amounted to 'haram' – a term used to describe a religiously forbidden act under Islamic rules.
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Pictured touching cheeks with Elena Frias de Chavez at service
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Muslim men banned from touching women outside immediate family
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Clerics say his actions are 'sinful' under Islamic doctrine
President Ahmadinejad was one of a number of world leaders at the funeral of former @placeholder President Hugo Chavez on Friday