Sulaymaniyah- Women always play an important role in passing Kurdish culture to the next generation. Atiya Abdulrahman, a teacher and artist in Sulaymaniyah, formed a women’s travel group in order to preserve Kurdish culture and introduce the nature of Kurdistan when she returned to the Kurdistan Region after spending six years abroad.

 ‘All women can join our tours’

“I try to take women out of their homes and introduce them to the nature of Kurdistan,” said 77-year-old Atiya Abdulrahman.

“When I returned to Kurdistan, I had an idea of forming a travel group for women. In 2010, I began to travel across Kurdistan to become familiar. Then, I formed a travel group for women, who can travel with me to different parts of Kurdistan and abroad. All women can join our tours.”

‘I have travelled to many countries by wearing traditional Kurdish clothes’

Atiya Abdulrahman has had a passion for wearing traditional Kurdish clothes since her childhood. “I felt very happy when my parents bought me traditional Kurdish clothes. Although I lived abroad for years, I have managed to preserve my language and culture. I have traveled to many countries, introduced the power, and will of Kurdish women. I have travelled to many countries by wearing traditional Kurdish clothes.”

‘We want to build a strong relationship among women'

Basoz Ahmad, one of the members of the group, graduated from the Department of English Language at the University of Mosul. “As the members of the group, we organize tours for women to build a strong relationship among women and preserve Kurdish culture and traditional Kurdish clothes,” she said. “Our aim is to build peace and unity among women so that they dismantle the patriarchal mindset that affects their society.”

“As the members of the group, we visit the beautiful nature of Kurdistan thanks to the determination of women,” said Shokhan Mahmoud, an activist and another member of the group. “I feel very comfortable and happy to be a member of this group.”