In the Shadow of the Mountain

Description

In the beginning of the 1980’s, Ashti briam Afandi, experienced the struggle that the Kurdish people were facing at the hands of the Iraqi regime lead by Saddam Hussein. This struggle gave birth to her desire to become a Peshmerga (Kurdish freedom fighter) and move to the mountains. It was during a period in which Kurdish Societies were ruled by men, and such a decision could lead to a woman being dishonoured.

Since the 1980’s, Ashti has studied the political and military events that have transpired in the geopolitical region of Iraq (and the neighbouring countries which encompass it). This account examines the popular stories which were recited in the news and compares these to the personal experience of a Peshmerga fighter. Ashti demonstrates the characteristics of the Kurdish leaders, who had used the situation as an opportunity for personal gain. These include details of the involvement of neighbouring countries, such as Iran, which meddled with these Kurdish organisations (PUK, KDP, communist and Islamic parties), using the Kurdish issue as its pivot.

It provides the reader with a comprehensive insight into the stressful living conditions of a Pershmerga. It was during a period of crisis, at a time, that the Iraqi regime was undertaking its “Al-Anfal” genocide campaign against the Kurds. She had personal experience with this campaign, narrowly escaping the dropping of chemical weapons. Ashti challenged a middle-eastern patriarchy, and has proved, throughout this story, that women are capable to struggle for their country and human rights.