Iran summons Australian ambassador in Tehran over pro-LGBTQI social media post
Iran has summoned Australia’s ambassador in Tehran over the publication of online content it deemed “norm-breaking”, the semi-official ILNA news agency says, a day after state media said the post “promoted homosexuality”.
The post on the embassy’s official Instagram account celebrates “Wear it Purple Day” and expresses dedication to creating “a supporting environment where everyone, especially LGBTQIA+ youth, can feel proud to be themselves”.
ILNA quoted Australian ambassador Ian McConville as saying the post was not intended to insult the Iranian people and their values, and the Islamic Republic was not mentioned in it.
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In 2022, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described homosexuality as part of the “moral depravity” widespread in Western civilisation.
Western rights groups have often accused Iran’s clerical authorities of restricting social and sexual freedoms — gay sex is outlawed and can be punished by the death penalty.
Tehran says the criticism is baseless and arises from a lack of understanding of its Islamic legal code.
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