Iran Visit by Mary Huessy

For 10 days in December, Mary Huessy joined a Friendship and Fact Finding Delegation to Iran from the Fellowship of Reconciliation. FOR is a pacifist organization promoting non-violent social change. Their goal in putting together this trip was to promote people to people diplomacy between countries whose governments are in conflict. In this way, their motivation and mission are very much in line with those of Building Bridges.

The delegation of 18 people visited many of the beautiful historical and cultural sites of Iran. We had an opportunity to meet with religious leaders from Islamic, Armenian Christian, Zoroastrian and Jewish communities. In addition, we met with members of a women's NGO working against environmental pollution and with students at a school of journalism. Other impromptu meetings gave us a chance to enter into conversations with all kinds of people. Everywhere we went we voiced our hope for peace and expanded contacts with Iranians. In return, we experienced incredible hospitality, kindness and widespread agreement that peace should be pursued by all.

The Guardian of the Fire at a Zoroastrian fire temple waves goodbye to our group.

Clerics in Qom answering questions from the delegation.

A woman in the mountain town of Abyaneh sells dried fruit outside her door.

The founders and members of the Women's Society Against Environmental Pollution with members of the delegation.

The delegation meets with leaders of the Jewish community in a synagogue in Tehran.

Mary Huessy with two good friends from Esfahan.