Gli Yezidi sono tra le vittime dell'ISIS, per saperne di più.
The Ezidis and
Ezidism (Yazidism)
This has been a subject for scientists and historians
to study for a long time. Unfortunately
the issue has been complicated for several reasons. The scientific truth has been exchanged with
political interests. This of course is
related with the Kurdish and Kurdistan
problem.
What is Yazidism?
In Kurdish and in most languages in Mesopotamia
means, Ezd, Ezda and Ezata means “God”.
According to the belief of Yazidism Ezid is the name of one of the
Gods. This is clearly mentioned in most
of the Yazidism verses.
….
“Sultan Ezidin is the pariah himself. He has given himself different names. The largest name is xwenda” […]
Yazidism is an old and historical religion. Born in Mesopotamia
and developed there. Almost all Yazidis
are Kurds. There are no Ezidis from any
other nationality. This religion
believes in only one God and prays for that God only. They also believe that God has seven
angels. They are; Ezrail, Cibrail,
Mikail, Dirdail, Simkail, Ezazil and Esrafil.
The Yazidi Pantheon has God on top, but he is only the
creator and is no longer an acting force.
The acting forces are represented by Malak Ta’us (the peacock angel).
Who are the Ezidis?
Those who believe in one God and that he is the one
and the only without any partner and believe to his seven angels and that they
adhere the rules and regulations of Yazidism are called Ezidis. After massacres and killings only a few of
the Ezidi population remains. According
to unofficial estimates the population of Ezidis is 1.5 or 2 millions. This population has dispersed to every part
of the world. They are in south
Kurdistan (Iraqi), North Kurdistan (Turkey ),
Southwest (Syria Germany
The start of Yadisim
As a religion Yadisim history is not very clear. When and how it started is not clear. The
historians and scientist have studied the old Mesopotamian beliefs and tried to
establish links with Yadisim. But they
have not managed to reach to a clear and satisfactory conclusion. The only thing that is clear and definite it
is its links with Mithraism and relation to Zoroastrianism. Some of the researchers takes the Saykh Adii
movement as the beginning of Yadisim.
This view is wrong. Because
Ezidis were already in existence before Saykh Adii. During the period of Sayhk Adii without
changing the principles of the religion some formalistic changes were carried
out. Sayhk Adii took the main religion
principles of Yadisim and applied them with his Soffisism. It is assumed that Sayhk Adii obtained the
permission of Semsani Leaders (those leaders of Ezidis at that period – infact
some of the researchers argues that Yadisim actually it is the Zoroastrianism
which includes some previous beliefs in it.
For example like the Mitraism.
The main principles of
Yadisim
· One and only one God.
· God’s power cannot be reduced and cannot be
fragmented.
· Both good and bad comes from God.
· There is no other bad powerful force than
the one God prossess. In another word
Ezazil has never been a bad force on its own.
Never thrown out from God’s courtiers.
Never symbolized as the bad.
· Ezazil is the head of the angels and he was
present when Adam and Eve were created.
He always supported the singleness of the God and he has never bowed for
any other force. He has never kneeled in
front of any force.
Sacred elements for Ezidis
In accordance with Yadism sun, fire, water, air and
the moon are the most sacred elements.
Further more animal farming and farming (to get the most from the
nature) were considered good things as well.
Being brave also was considered as sacred.
Further more every Ezidi should posses the following 3
qualities;
1. Rasti (Truthfulness): Every Ezidi should be
truthful, should protect himself/herself from lies. He/she should stand behind his/her word and
decision. Should always see the truth
must say the truth and must defend the truth.
2. Nasin (to know/himself/herself): This is to
be conscious. In other word every Ezidi
should know himself, his environment and should have a strong belief.
3. Sermi (shame, shyness): This means to stay
away from bad doings. For instance a
person who is bashful does not enter into wrong doings which will bring shame
on him. To hold their head high to live
clean Ezidis gives importance to this feeling.
The
main religious obligations
· Every Ezidi should have a Shaykh, a Peer
(spiritual guide), a hosta, a mentor and a friend (brother) for the next world.
· Every Ezidi should be “Gerivanlipesirli”.
· Ezidis prays 3 times a day facing the
sun. Mornings, lunch time and
evening. After they complete their
prayer they kiss the soil.
The sacred triangle in
Yadisim:
Ezid, Malak Ta’us and Shaykh Adii
Ezid, is one of the names of the God. Malak Ta’us is the head of the angels who is
called Ezazi. According to Ezidi belief
it is the power of working miracles. He
carries secrets from Malak Ta’us and God. Shaykh Adii and his nephew came from the
village Beytilfar in Lebonon and settled in Lalis. Some historians stated that his father and
grand father came from Hakkari and were
members of Hakkari’s Zoroastrians and they immigrate to Lebonan. The return of Shaykh Adii and his nephew back
to Mesopotamia and their settlement in the
Lalis temple should be considered of returning back to old beliefs. Because after settling in Lalis he gathered
the Ezidi’s around him and reincarnated Zoroastrianism and some of the old
beliefs such as the sun worship.
Ezidis and the other
religions
Ezidis believe that every religion reflects a
truth. Therefore everybody should cater
for their own religion and should be free for their beliefs. According to
Ezidis a person who do not cater for his own religion he will never cater for
any other religion. It is for this
reason that Ezidis do not accept anybody from other religions. Ezidis respects all religions and they expect
the same from the other religions.
Here we could see the humanistic nature of
Yadisim. The philosophy of Yadisim based
on humanity. Here is a verse to prove
the humanism in Yadisim:
“My God, give to seventy two nations give to eighteen
thousand beings and to Ezidis too.”
Composition of Ezidis
There is two main stratum in the Ezidi Community.
a) Even names (dunav)
b) Odd names (yeknav)
The odd names are the majority of the people and that
they are the followers.
The even names are subdivided into two categories: The
Pirs and the Shaykhs. During the period
of Shaykh Adii there were only the “Pir” and “the followers”. Shaykhlism was created during Shaykh Adii’s
period. In other word the society was
based on different caste and people could only be owned to his/her own caste.
Here are the castes:
1. Adani
2. Katani
3. Semsani
4. Pirani
5. Murit
The fasting and religious
festivals of Ezidis
1. Carsema Sor (Carsemasere Nisane): It is the first Wednesday of April. It is celebrated as the New year and Malak
Ta’us Festival.
2. Cile Havine: Carries on for 5 days. Celebrated between 11th and 16th
July.
3. The Feast of the Sacrifice. The date changes in accordance to the moon’s
calendar. This festival goes back to
Mithraism.
4. Cimayi:
Carries on for 7 days between 23rd September to 1st
October.
5. Cejna Ezda:
It is held on the first Friday of December. But people fast for 3 days before the
Festival day. Two weeks before Cejna
Ezda in three days of each week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays) people are
fasting and they celebrate the Cejna Xwedana and Cejna Sesims on the following
Friday.
6. Pir Ali:
This Festival (Feast) is for 7 days.
Starts on Sunday and ends on the following Sunday. At least one day has to be taken from the new
year. Therefore the last day of the
Festival has to end on the 1st day of the new year.
7. Xidir Elyas and Xidir Nebi: It is celebrated every year on the 1st
Thursday of February.
Yadism in Islamic Era
Arabs started to attach the Mesopotanian area in the
seventh century (BC 636-641) in the name of Islam. With the occupation of land, massacres and
mass killings started and very harsh declarations (Firmans) announced against
the local people.
Arabs enforced their religion and language by
force. Although the local people put up
a fierce fightings and strongly objected the Arab invasion unfortunately there
was nothing else that they could do against the terror. Those who wanted to escape from this
persecution had no alternative but to accept the Arab and Islam
domination. Those however who refuse to
bow against Arab domination and rejected Islam have fled to the mountains. They continue to live their lives away from
civilisation. They managed to protect
their language, religion and their culture.
Most of the Ezidis too escaped to the mountains and protected themselves
from the terror of Arabs. But those
Ezidis who escape to the mountain had to face a double trouble. They were massacred and persecuted because
their National identity.
Yadisim was representing the roots of
Kurdishness. Therefore Yadisim was a
Kurdish religion. Kurdishness was
forbidden and therefore Ezidis were subjected to very cruel treatment by the
Arabs due to the fact that they were Kurdish.
The Arabs were trying to assimilate the Kurds in the
name of Islam. The Kurdish Culture and
language was melting under the hegemony of Arabs. On the other hand Ezidis were protecting this
language and culture. This of course was
annoying the enemy and was attracting more killings and persecution of
Ezidis. As this was not enough, Arabs
were using those Kurds who were converted into Islam to attack on Ezdi Kurds. Through Muslim Kurds, Arabs were succeeding
more masskillings and massacres. It was
at that time that Saykh Adii came to Lalis and started to organize the Ezidis
through dervish beliefs. Taking into
consideration the new conditions of the era he managed to reform the Yadisim.
Persecution and mass killings of Ezidis continued
during the era of Ottomans. The only
thing that was changed, was the name and address of the oppressor. The core of the persecution remained the
same. The Arabs were replaced by Turks
but the nature of the Firmans remained the same.
Some examples taken from the declaration of some
Historians about the Arab and Ottoman Practices against Ezidis-
Name of the Historian: Ethem Xemgin
Name of the book: Kurdish History (volume3):
The position of Ezidi or
Yezidi Kurds
Those Kurds in Kurdistan
who are Yezidis are not a separate Nation from Kurds neither are they part of
the Kurdish Nation except their religion.
They share every bit of the Kurdish culture
Whatever method you can use to evaluate and comment on
the Yezidis . It could be seen that, it
was only them who have protected the Zoroastrianism which was the main religion
of the Kurdish people before the Arab enforcing Islam by force. Despite some changes due to the conditions of
different eras it is obvious that the main thinking of their religious beliefs
remains same as the principles of Zoroastrianism.
Yezidis in real terms are very local to the Kurdish
religion and it is for this reason that they conduct all their religious
ceremonies in Kurdish. Infact both
sacred books were written in real Kurdish.
After the expansionist and oppressive actions of the
Arabs who have used Islam to hide their real intentions continue to persecute
the Kurdish people who insistently wanted to protect their religious
beliefs. They have carried out massacre,
lootings and oppression against the Kurdish people. From time to time the Muslim Kurds were used
by the imperialist powers to annihilate the Yezidis, and accusing them to be
atheists. And from time to time the
imperialist powers have used their own armies to eliminate the Yezidis. Yezidi Kurds defended themselves against such
attacks. Although they have put up a
strong resistance to unbalance power and unsuitable conditions they have
suffered heavily and had to leave the fertile land and to escape to the
mountains in order to be able to protect themselves.
From time to time those who were converted into Islam
were agitated by Islamic circles that Yezidis were “Zindik” – of being devil
worshiper. The Yazidis have never been
regarded as Ahlu I – Kitab, people of the book, and they have suffered much
hardship from their Muslim oppressors.
Yezidis were presented of being devil worshipers who brought misery and
ill omen to humanity. They were also
presented worse than the Christian and Jewish dogs. The imperialist local powers always have used
an anti Yezidi propaganda against the Kurdish Yezidis and they have always
encouraged and rewarded those Muslims who tried to eliminate the Kurdish
Yezidis.
In the town of Sincar
· Atheist
· Enemies of the God (Zindiks)
· Any action against Yezidis is in the name
of Allah in order to convert them into Islam.
· War for the benefit of Allah
· Under these motives Yezidis’ homes were
burned down and demolished. Their
belongings were looted, women and children were captured and sold them in slave
markets. Some of them, after they were
taken prisoners were sentenced to dead because their fanatic views. In short the Yezidi Kurds were subjected to
cruelty beyond the borders of Mesopotamia .
Relying on the evidence of some documents we could
summarise some of the events against the Yezidi Kurds;
· 13th Century. The Leader of Yezidis was abducted in
Musul. After he was executed his body
was never recovered. As a result of this
incident a war started in the area which lasted for several years. Due to unbalance in power the Yezidis had to
abandon their towns and temples and to escape to the mountains. Their cities and temples were burned and
erazed to the ground and all their belongings were looted.
· In the year 1414 Yezidis has suffered
heavily in the wars between Muslims and Yezidis. They were massacred.
· 1640/1 - Yezidis of Sincar Area looted
several villages near Musul. After this
incident the Ottoman Governor of Diyarbakir Ahmet Pasha attacked on Yezidis
with a mighty Ottoman and supported force of 70 thousand.
· 1647/48 – The Amir of Seyhan Seyhk Mirza
revolted against Ottomans in order to capture Musul. As a result of this revolt the Ottoman
Governor in Van Semsi Pasha attacked with a large force under his command. The Yezidi forces lost the battle and Seyhk
Mirza was captured. Later he was hanged
by Ottoman Van Governors.
· 1715 – The Bagdat Ottoman Governor Hasan
Pasha attacked the Sincar area to punish the Yezidi Kurds in the area. Hasan Pasha committed a massacre in the area
and handed the administration of this area to the leader of Bedouin Arab Tayy
tribe. This Arab Tayy tribe was later
used against the Kurdish Yezidis in this region.
· 1733/34 – All the Yezidi Kurdish villages
on the Zab river were destroyed and mass killings committed by the Ottoman
Ahmet Pasha.
· 1752/53 – Yezidis in the Sincar area were
attacked by Ottoman Suleyam Pasha. This
Pasha continued with his mass killings for two years and killed many Yezidi
Kurds.
· 1767/68 – The Ottoman Governor of Musul
Amin Pasha sent his son with a strong army to loot the Sincar area. He ordered Yezidis to give one thousand
sheep. When only eight hundred was given
the Ottomans the army attacked and a large number of Yezidis were killed.
· 1770/71 – When the Yezidis Seyhan Amir
revolted against Ottoman administration the Ottomans put down the revolt by
massacre of Yezidis.
· 1773/74 – Ottoman Governor of Musul
attacked to Sincar area. The area was
looted and destroyed.
· 1779 – Ottoman Governor of Musul sent a
Muslim army to loot and destroy Sincar once more.
· 1785/86 – Ottoman Governor of Musul Abd el
Baki attacked to the area to punish the Yezidi Kurds of Sincar. In the same period Sincar was also attacked
by the Arab tribes.
· 1786/87 – The Amir of Seyhan Colo Bey lost
the battle with Amadia Pasha.
· 1789/90 – The Bedouvin Arab Tayy tribe
attacked took over the administration of the area (Seyhan) and they killed the
Colo Bey.
· 1790/92 – The Bedouvin Arab Tayy tribe
attacked Sincar area. Ismail Pasha
clashed with Kancar Bey in Seyhan.
Kancar Bey put in prison. Later
Colo’s son Hesen Bey managed to get back the administration of the area. But the Amir of Amadiye hanged him.
· 1792/93 – Ottoman Pasha the Governor of
Musul Muhammed burned eight Yezidi Villages in Sincar area.
· 1793/94 – Again Musul Governor attacked to
the Sincar area in order to punish the Yezidis.
However this time he lost the battle.
· 1794/95 – Ottomans send Suleyman Pasha to
Sincar area. The whole area was burned
down and destroyed. He looted the area
and abducted 60 women and stole 600 animals.
· 1799/1800 – Abd el Aziz Bey sent from
Bagdat and with the support of Tayy Bedouvins 25 Yezidi Village in the Seyhan
area destroyed.
· 1802/03 – The Governor of Musul Ali Pasha
decided to take over the administration of Sincar area. He attacked from the North with his own
army. The Arab Bedouvins attacked from
the South. The fighting continued
months. Several villages were destroyed. The forestry burned down. When the Yezidi Kurds lost the battle they
accept the authority of Ottomans.
· 1809/10 – The Ottoman Governor of Bagdat
Suleyman Qatil attacked Sincar area. He
looted Balad, Sincar, Mihirkan and some other villages beyond the region and
killed manyYezidi Kurds.
· 1832 – The Amir of Botan (Cizre) Bedirhan
bey attacked the Yezidis in Seyhan. The
forces of Bedirhan Bey captured the Yezidi Kurdish settlements. The leader of Yezidis Ali Bey was taken
prisoner. He was later tortured and
killed. After the captured of Seyhan
area by Muslim Kurds all Yezidi settlements in the area was looted and burned
down. They massacred their Kurdish
brothers who called them atheist. The
Seyhan Yezidis started to escape to Sincar in order to save their lives. They were followed by the Muslim army. In
order to avoid capture they throw themselves into the raising waters of Tigris near Musul.
Those who managed to swim they were safe but those who were unable to
throw themselves into river were all captured by the Muslim Kurds. Later they were all killed.
· 1832/33 – Mir Muhammed Revanduzi attacked
to the Yezidi Kurds in Akra area. After
committing mass killings in upper Zab
River Zikar Mountains
· 1838 – The Ottoman Diyarbakir Governor
attacked against Yezidi Kurds in Sincar area.
· 1838 – The Ottoman Musul Governor Tayyar
Pasha attack Cebel area in order to punish the Yezidi Kurds. The Yezidi Kurds were paying heavy
taxes. When they complaint the Pasha
decided to visit the area and assess the situation on site. He was accompanied by a large Muslim army. When they arrived near Mihirkan he sent his
mediators to explain his intentions. His
mediators were killed. He then destroyed
the area in revenge. After this incident
the Yezidi Kurds were left alone. But in
1890 Yezidi Kurds revolted against the Ottoman’s demands for asking young
Yezidi men for Ottoman army.
After several attacks by the ottoman forces
the Ottoman Administration stop calling Yezidi men for Ottoman Army. But unfortunately this peaceful era did not
last long.
In 1892 Ottomans started to oppress the
Yezidi Kurds again. Under the Muslim
Ottoman Army headed by Omer Vehbi Pasha the Yezidi Kurds subject to a new
persecution Omer Vehbi Pasha sent a message to Yezidis in Seyhan area either to
accept to be converted into Islam and pay your taxes or face destruction. The leader of Yezidi Kurds refuse the
demands. Omer Vehbi Pasha with his
skillful propaganda managed to take the Bedouvin Arab tribes and the Muslim
Kurds on his side against Yezidis. The
Ottoman army they entered into Sincar and Seyhan areas. It is argued by some Historians that upto
14.000 Yezidi Kurds accepted Islam to avoid massacre. After entering into the Yezidi settlements
Omer Vehbi Pasha and his allies committed mass killings. He looted Saykh Hadi Pilgrimate (Lales) and
transferred all Yezidi sacret materials into Musul. He then converted the Saykh Hadi Temple
As a result of these crimes the Christian
people and the ambassadors protested to Ottoman State
· 1914/18 – The Yezidi Kurds find the 1st
World War as an opportunity to escape from the terror of the Ottomans
Muslims. It was the time that the
Armenians were experiencing massacres.
Yezidi Kurds opened their arms and gave protection to their Armenian
brothers. They have help approx 20.000
Armenians who were running away to escape from killings. Despite the Ottoman
authorities pressure to hand over the Armenians not a single Armenian has been
handed back to Ottomans. With the
support of Bedouins Arabs and the Muslim Kurds the Ottoman Army once more
attack to Yezidis areas. The Yezidis
lost the battle due to unbalance of the fighting forces.
Few Exracts from a German
book
Written by writer/researcher
Johanns DUCHTINES about Yezidis:
There were only few evidence/record written about
Yezidis up until 15th Cenrury.
The Yezidis shares the same desting or the Kurds who were squashed
between Arab and Persian Empires and the Turkish tribes. Most of the attacks against the Kurds in the
region more of less were all due to their religion. Because the Kurds refused to give up their
religion they were oppressed, attacked and killed.
The Arab Islamic wars against Kurd started in the 30’s
of 7th Century. In 637 the
Arabs went into Kurdistan through Musul
area. They burned and destroyed the area.
Here is a chronological events list showing the mass
killings (massacres) against Kurds:
· In the year 906 AC– The Governor of Musul
Hamadani starts his persecution of Five thousand Kurdish families who revolted
against Islam.
· In the year 980 AC– The Islamic Union attacked to punish the Kurds of Hakkari who were on
revolt. The Kurdish forces were
surrounded from all direction. They were
promised to be forgiven if they were to surrender. But the Islamic Union did not kept their
promise and they crucified the Yezidis along the 25th kilometer of
Musul – Malatya Road
According to the book “Farsname” during the era of
Islamisation around 1107 AC
approx 500 thousand Kurdish families were killed.
Specially in the leadership of Hulagu Khan* (1217 –
1265) the Mongolians were very cruel against the Kurds. Because the Kurds have put up a strong
resistance and did not surrender as the Persians did in “Hakkari”, all captured
Kurds were put to the sword (were massacred).
(4) The Mongolians destroyed Sehrizor in 1245 AC , Diyarbakir 1258 AC . More or less everybody was killed.
· In 1254 AC The Amir of Musul Bedrettin Lulu
started a punishment campaign against the Adavi Kurds (Ezidi). “After a fierce battle the Adavi Kurds
(Ezidi) were forced to leave the area and some of them were killed. Some were arrested. One hundred were crucified and about same
amount of them were hanged by Lulu. He
also send people to open the grave of Saykh Adii, and burn his remainings.”
*Translator’s addition
· In 1761/67 – The German – Dutch Land
measures Engineer Carsten Niebuhr visited the area several times. In his travel book Niebuhr recorded how
Muslim majority was oppressing the Yezidis.
The following extract taken from Niebuhr’s book;
·
“The Muslims hates the Yezidis so much
that, one of their theologian confirmed that “killing a Yezidi is not a crime”.
· In 1838 Hafiz Pasha attacked to the Yezidis
in Sincar. After a long struggle Hafiz
Pasha accomplished his ambition to beat and control the Yezidis. The Prussian General Helmut Von Molthe who
was training the Turkish soldiers against the Kurdish freedom fighters – this
German – Turkish Co-operation still in existence – has written;
“after the occupation, terrible things
happened. More or less all the male
population were killed. Women and
children taken away, all together to be slaves.
Because they were Yezidis or devil worshipers.”
“….they brought prisoners and spoils of
war. There were wounded men and women,
babies and children of all ages, heads and ears. They were paying from 50 to 100 Kurus
(Ottoman money)* for per item as award.
Silence and sad Kurds, helpless women and heart breaking situation. It was a terrible seen.”
· In 1844 The Amir of Botan Bedirhan Bey
attacked to Yezidis in Turabdin. He used
force to convert them into Islam. Those
who rejected Islam were arrested and killed.
All together seven villages were surrender and accept to be converted
into Islam.
“…. The executioners suddenly appear like
thunder and under the cry of the people they push the wooden pegs so hard that
it came out from the back of their Yezidi victims. The bodies had to lay on soft ground for
several days with pegs still stack in them.”
*Translator’s note
· In between 1832/46 – Yezidi population
suffer another wave of destruction.
Already reduced in numbers ¾ of Yezidis reduced further.
· “Although the Turkish state did not
persecuted directly but allowed the local authorities to oppress the Yezidis
and turned a blind eye on their destructive actions. The state fail legally to protect the
Yezidis.
Those who abducted the Yezidi women and
girls, those who shaded the Yezidi blood gone without punishment. They had no protection against protection
against burglary, assaults or humiliation.
On the other hand when Yezidis tried to retaliate they were severely
punished by the authorities.
Attending religious classes became
compulsory. The Christian and Yezidi
children too force to attend religious classes (Religious classes was to teach
Islam)* Even where there were no Muslims
living they build mosques. Their
strategy was to transfer Muslim population into Yezidis villages in order to
seed hate between Yazidism and Islam.
The most rich landlords were expecting that the Yezidis will abandoned
their land and homes and that they were going to take over their land and
properties. Therefore they too were
exerting pressure on Yezidis. The only
people who left behind was the elderly Yezidis who wanted to “die in peace on
their own land”. Now days only five
thousand Yezidis remained within the borders of Turkey ’s
Kurdistan .
It is not too far that the last Yezidi will abandone his home and land.
Book
published by the League of Nations Section :
The Yezidis –
Those nations involved in this matter have
presented opposite views to each other.
According to the English and Iraqi sources (The Yezidi population) is
between 21 to 30 thousands and according to the Turkish authorities this number
is 18 thousands. For several reasons
(the League) decided to investigate the case.
Why we needed to carry out an investigation?
*Translator’s note
· The devil worshipers as known to many
nations have created an interest to find more about them.
· Yezidis are very different fabric of the
population in that region.
· Well-organized people.
· It is a current problem which waiting to be
resolved. Because; they are the only
organized and settled population in the West of the desert.
According to the British notes/presentations probably
the Yezidis are Kurd and that they are not Muslims. In contrary, Islam is a sin for them. According to British documents an ethnic map
has been produced and the Yezidis settlements were shown on that ethnic map. The Yezidis area was shown in separate colour
than the areas of Kurds. On the contrary
the map which was produced by Turkey
We asked to the representative of the British
Government to explain the reasons of this difference. The British explanation is not
satisfactory. They say that they are two
different populations. (Two different
work)*. The Turkish Government, argues
that the Yezidis openly are from the Kurdish race they have the same traditions
as the Kurds, they share the same culture.
The only thing that separates the Yezidis from Kurds is their
religion. According to the Turkish
argument the Yezidis religion is a “new Muslim sect” and to be a member of a
different sect does not warrants separating Yezidis from Kurds. The Turkish Government argued that the difference
between Yadisim and Islam is the same as the difference of Catholics and
Protestants. The roots of this peculiar
people are even worst than the roots of Kurdish uncertainty.
The Yezidis themselves claim to have roots going back
to centuries. More older than any
community in the world. According to
myths Yezidis came from Adam alone. Rest
of the world came from Adam and Eve.
Note from FEKA about the
population of Yezidis and their origin:
The information given by the Turkish and English
Government is false. Both information
does not reflect the truth. Because the
current population is between 1.5 and 2 millions. If the numbers is at least 1.5 millions
today.
*Transletor’s
Note: Turkish presentation,English presentatio
It has to be higher at the time that, those
information was produced. Because
thousands of Yezidis were killed or were forced to convert into Islam. Therefore the numbers were reduced ever
since. Similarly claiming that Yezidis
came from Adam alone is not true.
Because there are no evidence to that effect in our fables. Yezidis believe that they came from Adam and
Eve too. As far as the argument that
Yadisim is an Islamic sect is concern, is absolutely nonsense. Yasidism is not sect is a religion by
itself.
An Article by Ragip Zarakolu
(Ozgur Politika daily
newspaper 5/6/2001)
When Kofi Annan the General Secretary of UN presented
his annual report to the 55th General Assembly his main topic was to
“end all kind of religious discrimination” in the world. Added to his report were the findings of
Abdel Fateh Amor the special reporter who visited Turkey
One of the most important findings in this short but
equally important report was his assessment that Turkey
The special reporter Mr. Amor went to Turkey
According to Mr. Amor’s report the religious
minorities in Turkey
· Armenians = Between 50 to 93 thousands
· They have 51 churches, which Armenians
constitute 65% of the total non-Muslim religious minorities. They have 17 cultural welfare and Health
Organizations. There are 40 Thousands
students and 300 Teachers in 19 Armenian schools.
· 25 Thousand Jew of which 22 Thousands live
in Istanbul Anatolia . 7000 students in 3 schools. They have 8 Hospitals and several
Trusts. They also publish a Newspaper.
The position of the Greeks is
more dramatic:
73 Churches, 19 Schools, 65 Trusts yet their remaining
population is 30000 Thousands. Only 297
students attend schools in another word 15 students for each school.
These 3 groups are under the special protection of the
Treaty of Lausanne. The position of the
other none-Muslim minorities whish are not mentioned in the peace Treaty (Lausanne
· 4000 Arab Orthodox (they use the Greek
schools) they also work in the Greek Orthodox Churches. They are actually maintaining these schools
and it is them that they keep them open.
· 17 Thousand Surani
· 1000 Keldani
· 600-800 Bulgarian Orthodox
· 100 Catholic Levantine
According to this report the 99% of Turkey
As we know the peace Treaty Lausanne is an
international document setting up the legitimate foundation of the Republic of Turkey
The clauses 37-45 of the Treaty do not just guarantee
the religious and just the creeds of the 3 religious minorities but it does
guarantee the language and religious beliefs of all citizens of the
Republic. In other word thinking that
the Treaty of Lausane guarantees only 3 minorities is misleading. It is also arguable how much the religious
rights since signing this Treaty 75 years ago, allowed to be freely exercised.
According to the clause 39 of this Treaty - well
before the Copenhagen Criteria’s. The Republic of Turkey Turkey
Clause 42 stresses the importance of the cultural and
organizational freedom of these groups.
Despite the high feelings raised by the Turkish
officials about Lausanne
It is also our duty to remind those states that they
put their signatures under this treaty to stand with their own obligation and
insist of its implementation.
The position of the Kurdish
Ezidi Community within the context of Turkish – European Union Relations:
Despite the shortcomings of the Turkish and EU
relations, it seems that in the long run it will put certain obligations on Turkey
Turkey today have prepared a “National Programme” as a
response to the conditions that EU has put on Turkey’s path entering EU*. In this Programme, which is an undertaking -
para 1.2 (11) says that;
“…steps will be taken to allow and facilitate
practical solutions for those who are living in our country but are not Turkish
Citizens to practice their religions.
This will be allowed within the context if the state security (protect
the system). These steps and practical
solutions will be developed within the current Law and Practice…”
We want to comment on this point of view on behalf of
Yezidis.
We could see that it is the same approach as it was
written in the Book published by the League of Nations on the subject of Mosul
Kerkuk Problem and sharing out of Kurdistan .
*Translator’s addition
This was a report prepared by an special commission
which was set up on the 30.9.1924:
According to that document;
“The Turkish Government openly states that, the
Yezidis are part of Kurdish people, they share the same habits and traditions. The only thing that is different is their
religion. It is a Muslim Sect. Being a member of a different Sect does not
warrants to consider them different than the Kurds.” The Turkish Government drows up a similarity
between the difference of Catholics and Protestants to the one of Yadisim and
Islam.
Although the Turkish attempt to show the Yezidis and
Kurds as same is natural. The real
intention however is very much different.
Here the real intention is, to deny the religious
nights and by considering Yadisim as part of Islam is to refuse to accept the
existence of the Ezidis. Yazidism still
not accepted as a religion. This
constitute a violation of the International Law.
When Ezidis are issued a Turkish ID, the authorities
puts “atheist” or an “x” under the column “religion.” In most cases they enter the word
“Islam”. This of course is an example of
the denial policy of Turkey
Under this very complicated situation the starting
point should be to recognize and give a legal status to Ezidis religion. This legal status should be
international. If there is no recognized
legal status it does not matter how strong is its foundations. Soon or later it will be violated again and
again. Looking back into the history it
will be seen that, the Yezidis will not vanished but will received a heavy
blow.
The Turkish state has inherited the reactionary
practices of Ottomans’. The conqueror mentality and attacks villages and
temples belonging to Yezidi people. The
Yezidi people experienced mass killings and force immigration (expulsion)
between 1900-1936.
After the establishment of the Turkish
Republic thousands of Ezidis were
killed in Agri, Van, Kars , Mus, Cudi, Silopi,
Uludere, Sirnak, Siirt, Urfa Turkish State Armenia
and Georgia Syria
With the commencement of the “Turkish” National
liberation struggle oppression and killings was increased against Ezidis. The Local Administrators and the neighboring
Muslim Villagers feeling the support of the Turkish State
The state policy is to separate them from Kurdistan
and to assimilate them into Europe . It will be a tragedy for Kurdish people if
Ezidis are assimilated and lost. There
will be no other community to take their place in the life of Kurdistan . Because their prayers to God is in
Kurdish. Within the vast Kurdish culture
and traditions, their place will never be replaced.
The problem is not the Turkish State Turkish
State
One of the other reason why the existence of Ezidis is
denied, is because the minority rights given to those none-Muslim communities
under the Peace Treaty Lausanne.
The Treaty give guarantee “a status” to the non-Muslim
communities to be able to teach their religion in their own language. This is a legal binding. This Treaty also allows these groups to form
their own organizations and carry out activities towards the improvement of
their communities. But unfortunately
only the Christians are mentioned. The
Ezidis religion is only belongs to Kurds.
It is a Kurdish religion.
Therefore by accepting the Ezidis religion and because its language and
teachings is in Kurdish this clashes with the official denial Policy of the Turkish State
One other important aspect is this: After 1960 the Turkish Republic North Kurdistan . Villages and settlements belongs to Ezidis
has been destroyed. Those Ezidis who
were forced to leave have immigrated into Germany Canada and as far as United States Turkish State
We call upon all Kurdish and International Lawyers to
give their support in this matter.
Examples of Ezidis Treatment
by the Republic
of Turkey
1. The Turkish soldiers attacked Xarik Village
2. Kiwex (Magara) Village of Mardin
3. Again in the same year Kiwex village
attacked again by the Turkish soldiers.
Cindo Huseyin, Hawike and Seyh Omer Huseyin Huti were killed.
4. In later years Kiwex village attacked again
by soldiers. Xelef Qewto and Teter Hinis
Ibrahim Miste were killed.
5. The soldiers attacked Denvan Village
6. The Xirabiya Village
7. Mezre Village of Nusaybin attacked by the
State forces in 1995. Resit Yildiz
abducted. His where about is not known
until today.
8. The forces belonging to the state attacked
Denwan Village of Midyad. Siloye Mala
Semdin and Xelil Kurt were killed. One
woman seriously wounded.
9. Akcayi (Kocan) Village was attacked by the
soldiers and their associates in 1978 two young men Hayat Gunay and Nizamettin
Gunay were killed. Reason: of being a
member of Ezidi community.
10.
Bacin Village of Midyad attacked by soldiers and
their associates on the 26.8.1995. Ali
Agirman and his son Nezedin Agirman were killed. Makso Agirman seriously wounded.
11.
The
soldiers and their associated gangs on the 17.3.1952 murdered Ibrahim Aslan
from Asine Village of Diyarbakir. Again
in the same village the same forces on the 21.6.1964 killed Ahmed Aslan.
12.
Emin
Balik from the Village of Haydar Qule of Diyarbakir
13.
Serif
Akkus from Asine village was murdered in 1981.
14.
Rizgo
Kesen from Besiri village was murdered.
15.
Dervis
Toprak from Feqira village
of Besiri
16.
Mustafa
Bulut from Texeriye village
of Besiri
17.
Two
brothers Cemal and Yasar Goksel from Giresirt village of Viransehir
The list of Abducted Ezidi
Women and Girls:
1.
Gulan
from Kemina village
2.
Hayata
Dik from Xamika Sexa she was married and abducted by force.
3.
Sewqiya
a married woman from Takka village abducted by force. Despite her family’s repeated demands she was
not handed back. It was during this
incident that two Ezidi brothers Hayat and Nizamettin were murdered.
4.
Adla
Agirman a young girl from Bacin village abducted by force.
5.
Two
young girls were abducted by force from the village called Feqira.
6.
Two
young sisters from Dusa village were abducted by force. (These two girls belong
to a Ezidi Saykh family)
7.
Two
Turkish teachers who were working in the village school abducted Hezar Yarsan
from Hemduna village. Despite a
complaint to the authorities, the where about of the woman is unknown?
Further to all this information given above abductions
and murders as a result of state oppression thousands of Ezidis from Nusaybin
and Midyat had no alternative but to immigrate to South
Kurdistan . Those are Hevera
Ezidi, Kiwex, Evse and Geliye Sora Ezidis who are the members of Dasini Ezidi
community had to abandoned their willages and properties in order to save their
lives. As a result of the Turkish
inhiliation policy against Ezidis Tens of Ezidi villages were taken over by
Muslims.
List of Ezidi villages and
towns which were converted into Islam by force:
Bazar
Kemina
Qesirbelek
Kerwan
Dawridk
Adirman
Geliye Piran
Geliye Kelihe
Susani
Susaniya Jer
Kirse
Xirbe Cinata
Xirbe Beduriyan
Mitven
Misawile
Mizizex
Bamen
Elinin
Nemirdan
Pirelikan
Binerdka
Cetele
Basko
Dirike
Sinane
Gelemo
Perisane
Melecabil
Sewdiq
Canika
List of Ezidi Village
Kiwex (Turkish name: Magara village)
Kevnas (Turkish name: Cayirli village)
Taka (Turkish name: Oyuklu)
Mezre(Turkish name: Cilesiz)
Xanika Sexa (Turkish name: Magaracik)
Evse (Turkish name: Kaleli)
Kunar (Turkish name:Arpacik)
Fisqine (Turkish name: Kaydibi)
Geliye Sora (Turkish name: Guneli)
Qulika (Turkish name: Degirmencik)
Birguriya (Turkish name: Beleban)
Qorix (Turkish name: Ugurca)
Eynap (Turkish name: Inpinar village)
Kelhok (Turkish name: Kuscukur village)
Texeri (Turkish name: Ugrak village)
Dusa (Turkish name: Kumgecit village)
Simze (Turkish name: Oguz)
Cinerya (Turkish name: Yolveren village)
Geduk (Turkish name: Deveboyu)
Zewra (Turkish name: Isikli)
Minminik (Turkish name: Ucgul)
Isxane Bicuk (Turkish name: Kucuk Altinbasak)
Qori (Turkish name: Ditgen)
Gele Naso (Turkish name: Dinckor)
Xirbe Belek (Turkish name: Guven village)
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