Who Are the Yazidi?
The Yazidi (Êzidî) are an ethno-religious community of approximately 1 million people, historically concentrated in the Sinjar Mountains of northern Iraq, with communities in Syria, Armenia, Georgia, and diaspora populations in Germany and elsewhere. The Yazidi practice an ancient monotheistic religion combining elements of Zoroastrianism, Mesopotamian traditions, and Sufi Islam, centered on worship of Melek Taus, the Peacock Angel. Often mischaracterized as "devil worshippers" due to misunderstanding of their theology, the Yazidi have faced numerous genocidal campaigns throughout history, most recently the 2014 ISIS assault.
The Peacock Angel
Central to Yazidi belief is Melek Taus (the Peacock Angel), the chief of seven angels through whom God governs the universe. Yazidi tradition holds that Melek Taus was tested by God and, by refusing to bow to Adam, proved his exclusive devotion to God alone. This narrative, misunderstood by outsiders as Satan worship, has caused centuries of persecution. Yazidis worship facing the sun, consider certain foods taboo, and maintain strict endogamy (marriage within the community). Their religion is closed—one must be born Yazidi; conversion is not possible.
Lalish: The Sacred Center
Lalish, a valley in Iraqi Kurdistan, is the Yazidi holiest site, containing temples, sacred springs, and the tomb of Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir, a 12th-century Sufi mystic central to Yazidi religious development. Yazidis must make pilgrimage to Lalish at least once in their lives. The temples feature distinctive conical spires and intricate symbolism. During the autumn Feast of Assembly, tens of thousands gather for ceremonies including the sacrifice of a bull representing Melek Taus. Lalish escaped ISIS destruction, but thousands of pilgrims were displaced.
The 2014 Genocide
In August 2014, ISIS attacked Yazidi communities in Sinjar, committing what has been internationally recognized as genocide. Militants killed thousands of men and elderly women, enslaved thousands of women and girls as sex slaves, and forced boys into child soldier training. Tens of thousands fled to Mount Sinjar, where many died from exposure before rescue operations. The atrocity displaced most Yazidis from ancestral lands. Survivors, particularly women who escaped sexual slavery, have testified globally. Nobel laureate Nadia Murad became the most prominent voice for Yazidi survivors.
Diaspora and Survival
The 2014 genocide accelerated Yazidi emigration, with Germany becoming home to the largest diaspora (over 200,000). These communities struggle to maintain religious practices and endogamy outside the homeland. Younger generations face questions of identity and assimilation. In Iraq, return to Sinjar remains limited due to destruction, security concerns, and political disputes. The Yazidi community faces existential questions: can an ancient, place-based religion survive displacement? The UN has supported documentation, memorialization, and justice efforts, but community healing continues.
References
- Asatrian, G. S. & Arakelova, V. (2014). The Religion of the Peacock Angel: The Yezidis and Their Spirit World
- Murad, N. (2017). The Last Girl: My Story of Captivity, and My Fight Against the Islamic State
- Nicolaus, P. (2008). Yezidism: Its Background, Observances and Textual Tradition