Cristiano Ronaldo convicted of hugging Iranian artist

The Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, was sentenced by the Iranian justice to receive 99 lashes for having embraced, in an expression of affection and gratitude, the painter Fatemeh Hamami last September. According to Iranian media such as ‘Rouydad24’ and ‘Sharq Emroz’, Iranian justice imposed that penalty on the 38-year-old Portuguese star after he traveled to Tehran with his team in September to play against Persepolis for the Asian Champions League. During that visit, the footballer gave him a signed shirt, hugged and kissed Fatemeh Hamami, an artist with body paralysis, on the cheek as a sign of gratitude for giving him two of his works made with his feet.Ronaldo had a meeting with the artist last month during his visit to Iran.The Iranian press claims that numerous Iranian lawyers have filed complaints against Cristiano Ronaldo for this action, since, according to Iranian law, touching an unmarried woman amounts to adultery. Iran could forgive Cristiano Ronaldo if he shows repentance, Iranian media said today. If he fails to do so, the penalty imposed is 99 lashes the next time he steps on the soil of that country.

Original source in Spanish