In the Shadow of the Mountain

From the publisher

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.