Mennonite Weekly Review

AKRON, Pa. — The Sept. 25 interfaith dialogue in New York was Mennonite Central Committee’s fourth encounter with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad since 2006. Previous meetings have focused on barriers to peace between Iran and the West, including mutual suspicion and hostile rhetoric.

In all three previous meetings, MCC has raised the issues of Ahmadinejad’s objectionable statements about Israel and the Holocaust and of Iran’s nuclear program. For example, Ron Flaming, MCC’s director of international programs, said in a September 2007 meeting with Ahmadinejad: “Many persons around the world have interpreted your public rhetoric as a threat to destroy the state of Israel.

“This does not match what some of us have heard you say privately, where you stated that there is not a military solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

“If it is not your intention to destroy Israel, for the sake of understanding, for the sake of peace, for the sake of a bridge, we urge you to clearly and publicly say so.”

MCC’s positions on these issues are clear:

• MCC recognizes the Holocaust as a historical fact and one of the great tragedies of human history.

• MCC advocates for a nonviolent and just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and believes that any solution should provide peace with justice for both peoples.

• MCC opposes nuclear proliferation and calls upon all nations with nuclear weapons to work toward disarmament.

• MCC is troubled by reports of increased religious persecution in Iran and the expanding use of the death penalty to punish religious converts.

• MCC believes that restoring diplomatic relations with Iran, rather than seeking to further isolate it with additional sanctions, offers a better opportunity to directly and candidly address serious issues of concern.

MCC’s work with Iran comes from the Christian conviction to live out the principles taught by Jesus Christ — to seek to love and to live at peace with all people, including those who might otherwise be considered enemies.

This means undertaking dialogue with those with whom we have stark and serious disagreements. We advocate for governments to resolve their conflicts through dialogue rather than through military force.

Building good relationships takes time and persistence. Isolation does not bring peace. MCC is not alone in believing this. Key members of Congress from both parties have called on the U.S. government to meet face-to-face with the Iranian government.