Mennonite
Central
Committee

Canadians and American Mennonites received warmly in Iran

March 8, 2006
Carol Thiessen

Massive crowds thronged the streets of Qom, Iran, the sacred Shiite Islamic city, during an important religious holiday recently. They marched en masse, chanting with emotional fervour. Yet the masses of people were gently directed by a few men wielding nothing more than rainbow-coloured feather dusters. It couldn't have been more peaceful.

Such was the contrast between the reality of Iran, experienced by participants in a recent Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) learning tour, and the images thrown up by Western media of a belligerently violent country.

Twelve North American Mennonites travelled around Iran from January 27-February 10, 2006, talking to people on the streets and discussing faith and politics with religious and educational leaders.

And what they saw and heard debunked many of the myths currently prevalent in North American media. Here's a sampling:

 

Warm reception for North American visitors

"I was not expecting the level of hospitality that we received. It was overwhelming," said Elizabeth Holdeman of the U.S.

While it was common to encounter public slogans of 'Death to America' the personal connections were warm and open. "They could say, "Hey, we like you, but we don't like your government," said Bob Nally, a Waterloo-based businessman, who joined the tour with his wife Margaret Nally, vice-chair of the MCC Ontario board.

That hospitality extended to their welcome at mosques. "I was concerned about being a non-Muslim going into their holy place, but there was always a feeling of warmth," said Holdeman, who helps coordinate a cross-cultural exchange project at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

No violent reactions to anti-Islamic cartoons

Much of the often violent world-wide protests ignited by the publication of cartoons deemed offensive to Islam broke out during the learning tour's visit. At one point, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice blamed Iran and Syria for fomenting this violence.

Indeed, many protests were encouraged by the Iranian government, but they were peaceful. "I really don't think the government encouraged violent protests in Iran or abroad as the American government claimed. When a very small minority of protesters turned destructive (to property, not people), the government intervened and made public statements against such activities," said Laurie Pierce. She and her husband Matt are part of an MCC educational exchange program in Qom.

However, their hosts were genuinely hurt by the depiction of Mohammed. "They were upset. It wasn't a good thing and we empathized with them," said Nally.

Iran shouldn't incite fear

From neighbours and friends blanching at the thought of North Americans visiting Iran, to U.S. President George Bush's characterization of Iran as part of the 'axis of evil', fear is a common reaction to Iran.

Iran's new president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has done little to dispel the anxiety. For instance, he has called for the destruction of Israel. But participant Ron Dueck, chair of MCC Canada, surmises that the inflammatory statements are, at least in part, political posturing.

As Jon Rudy, MCC Asia Peace Resource person, points out, in recent history, Iran has never been the aggressor in wars. Despite having a large military there was little visible military presence in the country: no guns and very few soldiers, according to Rudy.

"My thinking is that Iran will not be the first to pull the trigger. But we also got the impression that they are a proud people," said Dueck, suggesting they might retaliate if struck first. And Iranians do fear a military strike from America.

Coupled with that national pride is a feeling of victimization. The feeling stems from Western support for Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-88, and more currently from international opposition to Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Iranians open to inter-faith dialogue

Since 1998, MCC has organized an ongoing student exchange program, which the Pierces are currently participating in. Two Iranian students are studying at the Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre, while the North American couple studies at the Imam Khomeini Education and Research Institute (IKERI) in Qom. Although this is the most theologically conservative grad school in Iran, it is committed to inter-faith dialogue.

"It matters to the whole world how Christians and Muslims relate to each other. Better understanding and peaceful relations are essential for the well-being of the world at large," Dr Kashiri, of IKERI, told the group.

Nally says he was blown away by the libraries he saw. There were shelves upon shelves of books on Judaism, Catholism, and a host of other religions. "They know more about us than we know about them," he said.

The impressions weren't all positive, however. The learning group encountered a genuine animosity towards Israel, as well as widespread agreement that Iran should have the right to pursue nuclear power.

Overall, the learning tour members felt there are great opportunities for MCC in Iran — to further faith discussions, to help break down stereotypes, and to foster a greater understanding of peace.

 

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