Iran Summons Australian Ambassador Over LGBTQ Celebration Photo

Iran has formally summoned the Australian ambassador in Tehran, Ian McConville, in response to a photo deemed “disrespectful” that was posted on the embassy’s Instagram account. The image was shared to commemorate Australia’s LGBTQ national day, known as ‘Wear it Purple Day’.

According to the state-run IRNA news agency, the Iranian foreign ministry condemned the social media post, labeling it as insulting and contrary to both Iranian and Islamic culture, as well as international norms. The photo featured McConville and his colleagues dressed in purple attire, celebrating allyship with the LGBTQ+ community.

The caption accompanying the post read: “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.”

The IRNA report further asserted that the embassy’s post violated international law and the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, which requires respect for the laws and regulations of the host country.

It is important to note that homosexuality is illegal in Iran; however, a religious decree issued three decades ago permits transgender individuals to pursue gender transition surgery.

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• In Iran, you can’t be gay but you can be transgender

In response to the diplomatic tensions, McConville stated that Australia had not intended to insult Iran or its culture, emphasizing that there was no direct reference to Iran in the controversial post. Furthermore, Australia’s federal workplace relations minister, Murray Watt, expressed his concern regarding the Iranian government’s reaction to the activities of the Australian embassy.

Watt stated, “We’re very proud about the fact that our embassies promote Australian values internationally. And I’m very concerned to see an overseas government seemingly take action against an Australian embassy that is upholding Australian values.”