A seemingly benign social media post by Australia’s embassy in Iran celebrating “Wear It Purple Day” has escalated into a diplomatic spat between Canberra and Tehran.
An Instagram post by the embassy of Australia in Iran, celebrating Australia’s national day to support LGBTQIA+ has Sparked outrage in Iran leading to the summoning of Australian Ambassador Ian McConville .
The post which sparked the controversy
On Monday, Australia’s embassy in Tehran shared a bilingual post in English and Farsi on Instagram to commemorate “Wear It Purple Day,” an Australian initiative designed to support LGBTQIA+ youth and foster inclusivity. The post read: “Celebrating ‘Wear it Purple Day’ with a splash of purple in every corner, and some delicious cupcakes made with love.” The post featured a photo of Ambassador Ian McConville wearing a purple bow tie, holding a bouquet of purple flowers, and posing with his family alongside a display of purple cupcakes.
Why did the post Irked Iran?
In contemporary world, Iran is regarded as one of the most repressive countries for LGBTQ+ community with severe punishment meted out to towards its members. According to the statement of an Iranian diplomat, “The content published by the Australian embassy is insulting and contrary to Iranian and Islamic tradition, customs and culture.” Australia was accused of violating the Vienna convention which mandated the diplomats to honour the customs and traditions of the host country. The Iranian foreign ministry summoned Ambassador McConville, expressing outrage at the post, which it labeled as “norm-breaking” and “disrespectful.”
Australia’s response
Ambassador Ian mcConville reiterated Australia’s stance for equality and inclusivity during his meeting with the Foreign Minister of Iran. He claimed that the post was not meant as an offence towards Iranian people or their value nor did it made any reference to the Iranian government.
Australia has not issued a formal apology for the post and the post still remains active on the embassy official page. Social media users expressed solidarity with Australia’s message of inclusivity, with one commenter writing, “Freedom and equality for all,” alongside purple heart emojis. Some supporters viewed the post as a bold statement of Australia’s commitment to human rights, even when faced with opposition from repressive regimes.
The action of the embassy was celebrated back home with Foreign Minister Penny Wong backing the embassy’s action publicly. “Australia is a proud advocate for human rights. At home and in the world, we work to advance these principles,” Wong stated.
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