NESÎM AHMEDÎ

Kermanshah- Sarpol-e Zahab, a city in Iran’s Kermanshah province, is home to the silent but determined resistance. The city, where the rock reliefs of Ishtar were carved into the mountains 4500 years ago, is the symbol of the strong bond between women and nature. A group of women in the city has formed a group named “Ishtar Group” to protect nature by taking inspiration from Ishtar, the ancient Mesopotamian goddess of fertility and rebirth.

Ishtar and strong bond of women with nature

Ishtar is known as the ancient Mesopotamian goddess of fertility and rebirth. Spring festivals used to be organized in honor of Ishtar. “Women have a strong bond with nature,” said Mahbube, a member of the group. “However, they are prevented from having a say to protect nature now. We formed this group to break this taboo. Taking such an initiative in a small city like Sarpol-e Zahab is an important step in showing that women can also make decisions for nature.”

Silent defenders

Women have been struggling against the oppression imposed by the patriarchal mindset on them for years, Mahbube said, “They struggle not only for themselves but also for nature. Women stand by nature against the capitalist system's exploitation of nature as a resource. Throughout history, most of those who destroy nature are men, while most of those who try to protect it are women.”

Citing the Chipko movement, the first ecofeminist environmental movement that started in India in the 1970s to protect trees and forest areas from deforestation, Mahbube said, “Women embraced the trees to prevent them from being felled and they succeeded. When we started cleaning the villages, people asked us if we were paid by the municipality or the government because many did not understand how women could protect nature without any support. We raised awareness among women in the villages by telling them that garbage can spread diseases and harms animals and plants. Then, they also joined us to collect garbage in order to protect nature.”

‘Women and nature have been exploited for many years’

“Nature has everything that a human being has,” another group member told NuJINHA. “Just like we have veins, arteries, and capillaries, plants have several different tissue types that make up their vascular bundles. These similarities show how we have a strong bond with nature. However, women and nature have been exploited for many years. If we, as women, protect nature, we can save both nature and ourselves from this exploitation.”