Arts & Literature: Voices of Kurdish Women Survivors: Healing Through Wounds of Genocide

Abstract

The Kurdish genocide tragically stole a generation, yet little attention has been given to the profound anguish endured by women left without husbands, fathers or sons. The poems "Alive," "Waiting," “To Hawa,” and "But Then Their Eyes Retained Everything" venture to unveil novel perspectives on the vast expanse of war, violence, trauma, and healing. They explore the impact of Saddam Hussein’s genocide on women during and after the war, its impact on subsequent generations, and the reflections of women on the implications of the Al-Anfal campaign, which spanned from 1986 to 1989. Similarly, the poem "Her Tongue Refuses to Recall," tells the tale of a resilient Yezidi woman who, like thousands of others, was tragically enslaved by the Islamic State, also known as Daesh, during their invasion of Iraqi Kurdistan from 2014 till 2017. By placing women at the forefront instead of the periphery, these poems attempt to enhance our comprehension of how these atrocities have affected families, intimate relationships, and the unique vulnerabilities faced by women.