Iranian officials have summoned the Australian ambassador to address what they consider “disrespectful” behavior following the posting of Instagram photos showing diplomats in purple attire enjoying cupcakes.
This incident has ignited a diplomatic dispute between Iran and Australia.
The Australian Embassy in Tehran shared the photos on Monday to commemorate Wear It Purple Day, an annual event established in Australia to support LGBTQIA+ youth.
“Today, and every day, we’re dedicated to creating a supportive environment, where everyone, especially LGBTQIA+ youth, can feel proud to be themselves,” the embassy’s Instagram post stated.
This gesture quickly attracted criticism from Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which labeled the post as “disrespectful and contrary to Iranian and Islamic cultural norms,” as reported by state news agency IRNA.
In Iran, homosexuality is illegal and regarded as a violation of Islamic principles, punishable under Sharia law.
“The official Instagram page of the Australian Embassy in Tehran has promoted homosexuality in a derogatory post,” IRNA reported.
Australian ambassador Ian McConville responded by emphasizing that the embassy “had no intention of offending the Iranian people,” according to IRNA.
The post on the official Australia In Iran Instagram account has garnered thousands of likes and comments, including a supportive response from the German Embassy Tehran, which reacted with three purple heart emojis.
In an interview with Australia’s national broadcaster, the ABC, government minister Murray Watt expressed his concern over Iran’s reaction, stating that the post was consistent with Australian values.
“We support all Australians, regardless of their sexual orientation, their gender, their race, and I am concerned to see this reaction from the Iranian government to the activities of the Australian embassy,” Watt told the ABC.
“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,” he said.
Amnesty International has reported that LGBTQIA+ individuals in Iran face “systemic discrimination and violence,” with punishments for consensual same-sex relations ranging from flogging to the death penalty.
Iranian authorities have previously sentenced rights advocates to death for social media posts.
In 2021, prominent LGBTQIA+ campaigners Zahra Sedighi-Hamadani and Elham Chobdar were arrested and sentenced to death for alleged offenses, including “corruption on earth” and “promoting homosexuality.”
Sedighi-Hamadani was released on bail in 2023 and fled Iran, while Chobdar was re-arrested in 2024 and remains in detention, according to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.
