The complexities of international relations often bring forth diverse perspectives, especially when it comes to military interventions. Recently, the Bishop of Chelmsford, Dr. Guli Francis-Dehqani, expressed strong disapproval of the US-Israeli offensive on Iran, labeling it as “unjust and illegal.”
Dr. Francis-Dehqani, who escaped Iran during her teen years, has a personal history deeply entwined with the region. Her father, Hassan Dehqani-Tafti, was the Anglican bishop of Iran between 1961 and 1990, a tenure that overlapped with the turbulent period of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
During the revolution, the bishop’s family faced severe persecution. An assassination attempt left her mother injured, and tragically, her brother was murdered in Tehran under mysterious circumstances. These events eventually forced the family into exile, with Francis-Dehqani leaving Iran at 14, while her father continued his ministry from abroad.
In a letter published in The Telegraph, Francis-Dehqani articulated her stance: “This is a war of choice rather than necessity. The Iranian regime is odious and repugnant, but it did not pose an imminent threat that justified pre-emptive self-defence. Diplomacy might have been working frustratingly slowly, but it was working. It certainly hadn’t been exhausted.”
She further criticized the apparent lack of strategic foresight by the US and Israeli governments, questioning the clarity of their objectives and the absence of a long-term plan.
“The lack of clarity as to the war’s aims, and the absence of any forethought about what comes next, belie the notion that this is either a moral war or a just one,” she stated.
Highlighting the importance of international law, she warned, “International law exists precisely to prevent the use of force in such circumstances. Without it, force prevails, the strong prey on the weak and states routinely act with impunity to resolve their disputes with might. It is a world that invites fear rather than hope.”
In previous remarks, Francis-Dehqani urged Christians to engage in prayer for the safeguarding of innocent lives and to seek wisdom for political leaders whose decisions have led to this “profoundly dangerous situation.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
