Iran Summons Australian Ambassador Over Post Supporting LGBTQIA+
The featured photographs of diplomats wearing purple and enjoying cupcakes, accompanied by a caption expressing support for an inclusive environment.
Adiplomatic incident has arisen between Iran and Australia following the Australian Embassy’s Instagram post celebrating Wear It Purple Day, an annual event supporting LGBTQIA+ youth.
The featured photographs of diplomats wearing purple and enjoying cupcakes, accompanied by a caption expressing support for an inclusive environment.
“Celebrating “Wear it Purple Day” with a splash of purple in every corner, and some delicious cupcakes made with love 💜.
“Today, and every day, we’re dedicated to creating a supportive environment, where everyone, especially LGBTQIA+ youth, can feel proud to be themselves.
“Let’s keep championing diversity and inclusion for a brighter, more inclusive future,” the caption read.
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Apost shared by Australia in Iran 🇦🇺🇮🇷 (@australiainiran)
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs promptly condemned the post as “disrespectful and contrary to Iranian and Islamic cultural norms”.
The country’s state news agency, IRNA, reported the ministry’s objection, as cited by the outlet. This reaction is consistent with Iran’s legal stance on homosexuality, which is prohibited under the country’s Sharia-based law and considered a violation of Islamic values.
“The official Instagram page of the Australian Embassy in Tehran has promoted homosexuality in a derogatory post,” IRNA reported.
As a result, the Australian ambassador was summoned to provide an explanation for the embassy’s actions, which Iran deemed offensive.
Australian ambassador Ian McConville responded by saying the embassy “had no intention of offending the Iranian people,” according to IRNA.
The Iranian government’s crackdown on LGBTQIA+ activism manifested in the arrests of prominent advocates Zahra Sedighi-Hamadani and Elham Chobdar in 2021.
The duo faced charges, including “corruption on earth” and “promoting homosexuality” through online platforms.
Sentenced to death, their plight drew international condemnation, with both the US government and Amnesty International decrying the unjust verdicts. In a rare reprieve, Sedighi-Hamadani and Chobdar were released on bail in 2023.
However, Sedighi-Hamadani swiftly sought asylum in an undisclosed country in 2024, while Chobdar’s respite was fleeting; she was re-arrested the same year and currently languishes in detention, as reported by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.
