Yes in this case, but one should never give a handshake with the left hand to Arabs, as they (at least the Wahhabis still?) use this hand for something else.
Another thing I learned was that you should never sit with your leg in such a way as you showed the bottom of a shoe as if it pointed to someone you showed him disrespect as the sole is najis (unclean). But the question is: What is worse the left or the right shoe?
16 July 2003
U.S. Expresses Condolences for Death of Iranian-Canadian Journalist in Iran
Calls on Iran to protect human rights of demonstrators, journalists
Washington -- In the wake of press reports indicating that more journalists have been arrested in Iran, the State Department, on June 15, said the United States "views with concern the continuing arrests and detentions of student activists and journalists for simply peacefully demonstrating, voicing political views, and reporting information."
The State Department called on the Iranian regime to protect the human rights of activists and journalists, and to release them.
A State Department spokesman also reacted to the death of an Iranian-Canadian journalist who died in custody after being arrested in Iran.
"We express our condolences for the death of the Iranian-Canadian journalist, Zahraa Kazemi, and join in the demand for a full investigation into the circumstances of her death," the spokesman said.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2003&m=July&x=20030716142332tiwomods0.8955957&t=usinfo/wf-latest.html