FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Nov.  26, 2008
CONTACT
Jean Stevens, CODEPINK media coordinator, jean@codepinkalert.org
Rae Abileah (in Iran), codepink.rae@gmail.com

NEW YORK CITY -- Echoing the nation's incredible feelings of hope and change following the presidential election of Barack Obama, young women Rae Abileah of Half Moon Bay, Calif. and Ariel Vegosen of Valley Stream, N.Y., are traveling today to Iran for two weeks as delegates with an interfaith civilian diplomacy group to foster peaceful ties and deeper understanding between the two countries and their faith-based communities.

They will join 11 other Jewish and Christian members of the delegation to demonstrate peace between the people of the United States and the people of Iran. Through their host in Iran, the Center for Interfaith Dialogue, they will meet with educators and students, politicians, artists, media representatives, and Muslim religious leaders, as well as members of the minority Christian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian communities. They will also visit cultural and historic centers in Tehran (the contemporary capital), Qom (world center of Shi'a theology), Hamadan (the location of the tomb of Esther & Mordecai, historic Jewish figures), Isfahan (legendary capital of medieval Persia), and Shiraz (jewel of classical Islamic culture, as well as the seat of Iran's ancient pre-Islamic civilization). They will exchange ideas with Iranians about peaceful alternatives to the standoff between their governments and to build concrete people-to-people relationships.

Abileah, 26, a longtime environmental and social justice activist, felt compelled to join this interfaith delegation through her work as the local groups coordinator for the leading women's peace group, CODEPINK. In the past year, she's worked on its "peace with Iran" campaign, helping to get city resolutions passed against the Congressional sanctions legislation, mobilizing the anti-war and Iranian-American communities for rallies and cultural events, and dialoguing with the Jewish community about the perceived threat of Iran. Promoting peace through diplomacy with Iran is the single most important act the U.S. and Israel can take to further their own security and global interests, as peace will not come through further militaristic intervention, said Abileah, a 2004 graduate of Barnard College with degrees in environmental science and human rights who has also participated and led social justice projects throughout the United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, and France.

 "It has been devastating to witness the impact of U.S. occupation on Iraq and it is further heartbreaking to hear some members of the Jewish-American community saber rattling for war on Iran in the name of peace for Israel," Abileah said. "It's time we talk with each other. I'm going to Iran to do just that -- to demonstrate to our elected officials and new president that diplomacy is real, possible, and achievable. Seventy percent of Iran's population is under the age of 30, and so am I -- it's time the next generation stepped up and led the way to a better world."

Vegosen, 28, a professional conflict mediator, interfaith dialogue facilitator, media coordinator and journalist, joined the delegation to help her country and Jewish  community understand the Iranian people and prevent future bloodshed. A participant on a F.O.R. interfaith peace delegation to Israel and Palestine in 2003, Vegosen plans to return to the States and share her experience. She and others of the delegation will report on their experience online during the trip on CODEPINK's blog at www.codepinkalert.org/blog and FOR's blog, www.forpeace.net.

"As a young Jewish activist, it's crucial I go to Iran and see first hand what the country, culture, and experience there is all about," Vegosen said. "For the past few years my country and religious community have been fueling my mind with fear against Iran.  I hope this story will convince my government and my fellow citizens to refuse another war and to refuse sanctions on Iran."

The delegation will return to the United States on December 7.  Its trip will overlap with another CODEPINK delegation of co-founders Jodie Evans and Medea Benjamin, and Col. Ann Wright, who are meeting with Iranian officials, women's groups, NGOs and peace activists under CODEPINK's "Let's talk!" initiative within its new "War is SO over"  campaign inspired by Obama's historic election (listen to Evans describe the initiative and the trip on Air America radio here).

To  arrange interviews with Rae Abileah and Ariel Vegosen, or to learn more about this historic trip and CODEPINK's "War is SO over" work, please contact Jean Stevens at jean@codepinkalert.org. Background information about FOR's Iran program can be found online at: www.forusa.org/programs/iran.