LIPW Middle East Interest Group Presents: "Perspectives on Iran"  by Matthew & Laurie Pierce

Sunday, February 4, 2007
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Fondersmith Auditorium • Trinity Lutheran Church • Lancaster PA

Mathew and Laurie Pierce are members of the Presbyterian Church USA who have been serving in Iran since 2001 under the auspices of the Mennonite Central Committee.  They spoke and  answered questions on current topics, such as:

• diversity of culture people and religion in Iran
• understanding the spectrum of attitudes toward the West and the USA
• what kind of US foreign policy we should be advocating
• stepping back from the current confrontational path

The following is an excerpt from their speech given on February 4:

"Understanding the Unity and Diversity within Iran"

• Religion

Unity: Iranians are, by and large, a religious people. Diversity: But they adhere to a wide range of religions including Shi'a Islam (Iran's majority faith), Sunni Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism and the Bahai Faith. Within Islam, different interpretations are many, and within the Muslim community exists the wide liberal-to-conservative range that we have in Christianity and other world religions.

• National Identity

Unity: Iranians are, on the whole, nationalistic and proud of their national identity Diversity: But, conceptions of what it means to be Iranian differ enormously. Many Iranians root Iranian identity in the distinguished history of pre-Islamic Persian civilization, while others equate Iranian identity with Shi'a identity.  

• Politics

Unity: The majority of Iranians, and certainly a large majority of Shi'a Iranians, favor some sort of Islamic government. Diversity: But there are vastly different interpretations of what Islamic government looks like. Iranian conceptions of Islamic government span the gamut from a system that incorporates Islamic law at all possible levels to one in which only loosely based in the most basic Islamic principles (ones that would be shared by other monotheistic religious traditions).      

• Other Unities and Diversities

Unity on the Nuclear Issue: The issue of nuclear power has become one of national pride in Iran, with few Iranians questioning whether their government should pursue the full nuclear cycle for the purposes of civilian energy programs. Most Iranians, however, would not extend their support to a military nuclear program, particularly in light of Supreme Leader Ali Khamanei's fatwa condemning the possession and use of nuclear weapons. Diversity of Views of the West : Iranians are varied in their views of the west. A tiny percentage of Iranians would have the view that both the governments of Western Europe and North America and their peoples are bad and pose a threat. Far more common is a feeling of good will towards the people of the west, but a strong dislike and fear of their governments, in particular the government of the United States. A small percentage of Iranians would be unabashedly pro-western, and many have extremely nuanced views of the west, praising some aspects of its history/culture while questioning others

• Important Factors often Overlooked by the West

Economics : In evaluating current events in Iran, we must always keep in mind the important role that economics play in the Iranian political scene. The last three presidents of Iran: Rafsanjani, Khatami, and Ahmedinejad are very different from one another, but they have in common that economic issues played a major role (probably moreso than religion or social issues) in their coming to and falling from power as well as in their popularity or lack thereof. The shaping of western opinion of Iran: Too often the forming of western opinion on Iran is monopolized by a minority of Iranians, particularly Iranians in exile in the west and those who are pro-western, anti-regime in Iran. The perspectives and experiences of these people are definitely worth serious attention. However, we should remember that in the

Western media, and possibly in political and intelligence spheres, we have very little access to or nuanced examination of what the vast numbers of average Iranians are thinking/feeling about the west and their own government. And, in light of 1979, it could well be argued that failing to understand the desires and values of these average Iranians does not bode well for those in power.

"Advocating a Wise, Just, and Peacemaking Foreign Policy"

Intro: One of the best things we can do as citizens concerned with justice and peace is to advocate a foreign policy based in those principles to the elected officials in power over us. Here is a list of actions we think the American government can take to back down from the current confrontation and improve relations with Iran. We encourage you to contact your representatives with these and other suggestions and concerns related to Iran.
1. Engage in direct talks with Iran with as few conditions as possible . Washington has often played the game of setting a condition it knows Iran is unwilling to fulfill as a prerequisite for talks. There is ample room for U.S. humility given its own gigantic nuclear program and its checkered past with regards to Iran.
2. Ask for Iran's input on the restoration of stability and reconstruction of Iraq. Getting Iraq's neighbors involved in the reconstruction and return to stability of that country has been suggested by a number of high-ranking US and European leaders. Both Iran and Syria have strong cultural, geographical and religious ties with Iraq and thus would provide unique and potentially helpful insight into the situation.
3. Ratchet down the rhetoric, and focus on incentives rather than threats. Threats made by the United States, in particular comments Bush has made in regards to Iran, have helped no one. Instead, they have galvanized Iranians behind the current regime--even those Iranians who dislike their rulers. Conservatives in Iran have actually thanked Bush for helping their cause, and many say his "axis of evil" statement went a long way towards getting current President Ahmedinejad elected. Threats also put the Iranian regime into siege mode, effectively shutting down internal dissent.
4. Establish common ground. There are minor disputes that could be worked out, paving way for dialogue on bigger issues. For example, the issue of frozen Iranian assets could be tackled, and the United States could pay Iran for the passenger jet it brought down. (The United States paid compensation for the families of victims, but it did not reimburse Iran for the $30 million passenger jet it destroyed. Doing so could be a good-faith gesture.)
5. Actively strive for peace and justice in Palestine. The Palestinian/Israeli conflict is at the heart of nearly every dispute related to the Middle East. Iranians are deeply concerned about this issue, and movement towards a just resolution of the conflict would help to ease Iranian/American tension.
6. Support a regional approach to weapons of mass destruction. If, in fact, Iran intends to build nuclear weapons, it is not likely to be dissuaded unless Israel--believed to have some 300 nuclear weapons--also forswears nuclear weapons. The issue of nuclear power and nuclear weapons must be looked at regional and international levels. Focusing on one state in isolation, while ignoring other countries who have clearly violated the non-proliferation treaty, opens us up to charges of hypocrisy.
7. Examine with extreme caution any attempt to seriously undermine or destroy the Iranian regime. Having already thwarted a fledgling democratic movement in Iran 50 years ago, the United States will do well not to repeat its mistake. Today, Iran's large and youthful population overwhelmingly supports democratic reforms, and a democratic process of sorts is in place, however imperfect. Shirin Ebadi, Iranian human rights activist and winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize, says that U.S. attacks would undermine the human rights and civil society movement in Iran. Furthermore, as we have seen in Iraq, the destruction of a regime does not necessarily mean that what follows is more desirable.

Suggestions Perhaps Worth Consideration

8. Respect the Iranian Regime and its religious ideology as much as possible, and leave reform to the Iranians. The United States and other western nations have made many, many mistakes in regards to Iran, and in the process have lost just about all credibility in the eyes of the Iranian people. The government has its problems, certainly, but there are many other governments in the world and in the region that have a greater stranglehold upon their own people as well as worse human rights records. The Iranian people have proven that they are capable of overturning a government that does not represent them, and a democratic process of sorts is in place that could conceivable allow gradual improvement and change over time. Certainly Iran has improved in a number of ways since the revolution. Iranian society is dynamic, thoughtful, and capable of instigating change.
9. Let Iran have its rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The world is up in arms over Iran enriching uranium, but this process is actually within Iran's rights under the NPT. According to the NPT, Iran can fully develop a non-military nuclear program. Perhaps if the international community allowed Iran to develop full civilian nuclear capabilities they would have more credibility and unity from which to ensure that Iran's nuclear activities were confined to non-military purposes.

More About Matthew and Laurie Pierce:

Matthew and Laurie Pierce recently completed a three-year stint in Iran as students in a Muslim-Christian exchange program jointly hosted by the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and the Imam Khomeini Education and Research Institute. Prior to studying in Iran the Pierces had lived in a variety of Muslim countries including Pakistan, Yemen and Egypt. The exchange program of which they were a part in Iran began in the mid-90s when MCC, mindful of tense Iranian-American and Muslim-Christian relations, sought to extend its already-existing program in Iran to include activities specifically aimed at peace building and improving interfaith relations. Laurie and Matthew were the third MCC couple to participate in this exchange program, and during their three years in Qom they were full time students of Islam and Persian, with Matthew specializing in Shi'a Studies and Laurie specializing in Persian Literature. The couple also did liaison work with MCC partners in Iran, including the Iranian Red Crescent Society, particularly in the wake of the disastrous 2003 Bam earthquake. Matthew and Laurie returned from Iran in early June 2006, and they currently live in Boston, Massachusetts, where Matthew is pursuing a PhD in Islamic Studies at Boston University and Laurie works part time as an editor from home as she cares for their 2-year-old daughter Ramona, who was born in Iran.