Drama by Maxine Peake about a British woman joining the YPJ

An original drama by Maxine Peake will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on 8 March. The drama, directed by Nadia Molinari, is called Only Mountains.

'Only Mountains' is about a young British woman's controversial decision to join the YPJ, an all-female Kurdish militia fighting against the Islamic State group in Syria.

When Pearl chooses Istanbul as the destination for her best friend's hen do, it isn't just the beautiful location that draws her there.

While in Istanbul, Pearl meets people from the Kurdish community and her political convictions are strengthened through her encounters.

But when she makes the controversial decision to join the YPJ, an all-female Kurdish militia fighting on the brutal frontline in Rojava against the Islamic State group, will her friends be able to change her mind?

The drama follows a young British woman, Pearl, and her journey into becoming a member of the YPJ- an all-female Kurdish militia actively fighting on the brutal frontline in Syria to overthrow Islamic State group and create a new feminist democratic society.

The drama explores what triggers Pearl to make the decision to join the YPJ, the risks she is prepared to take for her political convictions and the contentiousness around her decision.

It questions the root of the ultimate sacrifice of putting your life on the line for your beliefs, especially when the battle is waged on foreign soil.

It is a fictionalised account although based on detailed research with real people and organisations.