Four Parishes Arts Society - May 2010

Life under the Veil in Iran - talk by Sandra Simmonds - Tuesday 13 April

Sandra met her Iranian husband whilst she was serving in the Royal Navy and he was serving in the Iranian Navy. Before marrying, they both had to resign from their respective navies. 

Eventually, after much objection from the head of the family, her husband’s father, and after she had visited Iran twice, they married in England. Her mother-in-law was allowed to come to England for the wedding, but as she was not able to fly back alone, she had to accompany them as they were honeymooning while driving back to Iran.

Sandra gave a vivid description of their journey home. The plan was to live in Iran for five years and then come back to live in England. As an English Christian married into a deeply religious Muslim family, life was not easy and Sandra told us of her personal experiences and of the many trials and tribulations she underwent. Her father in-law would not accept her for 9 months and shut himself away in an upstairs room but her mother-in-law was very kind to her. When finally he did accept Sandra, she had to go through a Muslim wedding.

The revolution came during her time in Iran, the Shah of Persia was deposed and the Ayatollah took over. Life then became very difficult for her and other English and Americans and she had to flee the country with her husband without taking any papers or passports. They travelled across many countries and eventually flew home from Italy. Sandra had lost nearly 3 stone and was so ill on arrival in England she had to be hospitalised.

The Islamic State allows men to have up to 4 wives. Sandra was then greeted with the news from her husband that he was going to take another wife who would have to live in their apartment with them. After Sandra and her husband arrived back in England, he brought over his second wife so Sandra divorced her husband who is still living in England.

Future Events

Sat 8 and Sun 9 May - exhibition of members’ artworks at Quarley Hall. Please send your completed entry forms to Norman Green by 1 May.

Tuesday 8 June – Visit To Tyntesfield House. We need 30 persons to fill the coach – so far we have 24. Please come and bring friends, as we do not want to disappoint those members who have already booked. Telephone Norman Green (772489).