Baghdad – Is it ever going to be easy for people to stay safe against religious discrimination and persecution?
The Yazidis of Iraq are a minority ethnic group continuously oppressed in the Middle East. Based on recent reports, as many as 40,000 members of this ethnic tribe are caught among the Islamic militant conflict in the region. They have been the target of various advances by the Islamic State (IS). If this goes on, what could the future hold for the Yazidis?
Who are the Yazidis?
Throughout history, the Yazidis have been part of the poor and discriminated group in the region. They have one of the oldest religions in the world. Their religious beliefs and practices are used unjustly to refer to them as “devil worshippers.” However, this mistaken notion is largely due to a grave misunderstanding of their name, as well as certain aspects of their religious belief.
Extremists, such as members of the IS, follow the greatly unpopular second caliph of the Umayyad dynasty definition of the “Yazidis,” which is from Yazid ibn Muawiya. However, based on more current research, the group’s name is taken from the modern Persian term ized, which means “deity” or “angel.” This implies that the name Izidis simply means “a worshipper of god,” which is how the Yazidis describe themselves.
God and Melek Taus
Aside from the distinction with the name, many of the members of this ethnic group are being tormented by strong disapproval and harmful attacks because of their worship of a “Peacock Angel,” known as Melek Taus. The Yazidi believe in a supreme being known as Yasdan, demonstrating a link to Zoroastrianism. Researchers have identified many similarities between the Yazidi faith and Christianity as well as Islam. However, one of the most critical aspects of their faith being questioned by the extremists is the way they pray to Melek Taus.
Melek Taus is known to be an active executor of the divine will. This negative characteristic of such an entity is the subject of the different regional groups’ growing concern. Another name for Melek Taus is Shaytan, which is another cause for misunderstanding, as the term “shaytan” is Arabic for the Devil. This is another reason why many mislabel the group as devil worshippers.
Despite the Struggles, Yazidis Remain Strong
Even though the group has been subjected to numerous discriminatory events and persecution, the members have never abandoned their faith. Their strong sense of identity and solid, intimate connection with their core practices remain. The Yazidis have established and maintained their strength of character despite all the struggles of the past and the present. If the IS extremists pursue the move to drive ethnic communities from Iraq to Syria, many may choose to settle in lands along southeast Turkey. Still, the Yazidis members declare their faith and their religious culture intact.
Future and Hope
As the fight against the extremists continues, Middle Eastern affairs have become an international concern. Other nations have already extended aid and assisted in efforts to protect the people. In spite of this admirable attempt to lessen the blow of local attacks, there is still a long way to go before the Yazidis can freely walk back to their homes and live peacefully. For now, triumphs and joys come from the return of family members who have been separated from each other and some other members safely surviving the growing advances.
Image from Toby Adamson flickr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/69621765@N00/6786193820/
