Australia’s ambassador to Iran was called into the Islamic Republic’s foreign ministry in Tehran this week after sharing a post celebrating Wear It Purple Day on his embassy’s official Instagram account. Wear It Purple Day is an annual LGBTQ+ awareness day in Australia that celebrates young queer people.
“Let’s keep championing diversity and inclusion for a brighter, more inclusive future. 🤝 🏳️🌈,” the country’s account @australiainiran posted on Sunday in both English and Farsi. The text accompanied a photo of Ambassador Ian McConville posing in Tehran on the embassy rooftop alongside two staff members. They all wore purple clothing and accessories.
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Iran’s semi-official ILNA news agency reported on Tuesday that the post was deemed “norm-breaking” by the Islamic government, according to Reuters. Iranian state media on Monday said it “promoted homosexuality.”
The country’s Mehr news agency, another semi-official government outlet, quoted the director of the Regional Department at the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as having “strongly condemned the action of the Australian embassy in posting such content that was against the accepted norms.”
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“The content published by the Australian embassy is insulting and contrary to Iranian and Islamic tradition, customs and culture,” the Iranian diplomat said, while suggesting that its distribution was a violation of international law.
Homosexual activity is illegal in the Islamic Republic and is punishable by death in some cases.
McConville, who was appointed ambassador in April, took issue with the Iranian government’s characterization of the post, according to ILNA. He said the inclusive message wasn’t intended to insult the Iranian people or their values. The Islamic Republic, McConville pointed out, wasn’t mentioned in the post.
In 2022, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei infamously described homosexuality as a symptom of the “moral depravity” plaguing Western nations.
By contrast, the embassy’s post championed Western values of tolerance and inclusivity.
“Today, and every day,” the post read, “we’re dedicated to creating a supportive environment, where everyone, especially LGBTQIA+ youth, can feel proud to be themselves.”
The post remains live on the Australian embassy’s Instagram account.
McConville’s call to the carpet follows an incident in August when Iran’s ambassador to Australia was called into that country’s Department of Foreign Affairs over a post on X advocating for the violent removal of Israelis from “the holy lands of Palestine.”
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the remarks abhorrent, hateful and antisemitic, saying it was “entirely inappropriate” for the Iranian ambassador, Ahmad Sadeghi, “to engage in that way.”
Albanese’s disapproval may turn out to be the first in an extended game of diplomatic tit-for-tat between the nations.
