Iran’s international ministry mentioned it had summoned Australia’s ambassador in Tehran to “strongly condemn” a social media message posted by the embassy supporting LGBTIQ+ rights, in a transfer that has Canberra “very involved”.
The embassy used an Instagram put up on Sunday marking Put on it Purple Day to name for a “brighter, extra inclusive future”.
It included images from a celebration on the embassy with Ian McConville, Australia’s ambassador to Iran.
Put on It Purple Day began in 2010, and is well known on the final Friday of August every year. On the day, members of the LGBTIQ+ group and allies in Australia put on purple to point out assist for younger LGBTIQ+ Australians.
“At this time and day-after-day, we’re devoted to making a supportive atmosphere, the place everybody, particularly LGBTQIA+ youth, can really feel proud to be themselves,” the Australian mission wrote.
Iran’s ILNA information company quoted McConville as saying the put up was not supposed to insult the Iranian individuals and their values, and the Islamic Republic was not talked about in it.
However Iran’s international ministry mentioned in an announcement on Tuesday: “Following the publication of offensive content material opposite to Iranian and Muslim customs and tradition, the Australian ambassador has been summoned to Tehran.
“The Ministry of Overseas Affairs has strongly condemned the motion of the Australian embassy in publishing this content material.”
Within the assertion, the ministry’s head of regional affairs was quoted as saying the put up was “in violation of worldwide regulation” and the Vienna Conference on Diplomatic Relations, which “mandates that diplomatic missions respect the legal guidelines and laws of the host nation”.
The put up stays on the embassy’s Instagram account.
Labor minister Murray Watt was vital of Iran’s choice to summon McConville over the put up.
“We’re very proud about the truth that our embassies promote Australian values internationally,” Watt mentioned. “And I’m very involved to see an abroad authorities seemingly take motion towards an Australian Embassy that’s upholding Australian values.”
Overseas Minister Penny Wong mentioned in an announcement, “Australia is a proud advocate for human rights. At house and on the planet we work to advance these rules.”
Similar-sex relationships have been against the law in Iran because the Islamic Republic was established in 1979, and in some circumstances, homosexual intercourse is punishable by the demise penalty.
With extra reporting by Reuters.
