Instagram Post Sparks Diplomatic Spat Between Iran and Australia Over LGBTQIA+ Rights

An Instagram post celebrating Wear It Purple Day, an annual event recognizing LGBTQIA+ youth in Australia, has sparked a diplomatic row between Iran and Australia, CNN reports.

The Australian Embassy in Tehran posted photos on Monday of diplomats wearing purple and enjoying cupcakes, accompanied by a message advocating for inclusivity and support for LGBTQIA+ youth. However, the post drew immediate condemnation from Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which deemed it “disrespectful and contrary to Iranian and Islamic cultural norms.”

Homosexuality is illegal in Iran, and same-sex relationships are considered a violation of Islamic values, punishable under Sharia law. The Iranian government has a history of persecuting LGBTQIA+ individuals, with punishments ranging from flogging to the death penalty.

In response to the criticism, Australian Ambassador Ian McConville clarified that the embassy “had no intention of offending the Iranian people.”