The Yazidis: Religion, Society and Resentments
The Yazidis: Religion, Society and Resentments

Author(s): Thomas Schmidinger
Subject(s): Politics, Customs / Folklore, Geography, Regional studies, Theology and Religion, Security and defense, Cultural Anthropology / Ethnology, Ethnic Minorities Studies, Identity of Collectives
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: Iraq; religious minorities; The Yazidis; religion; society and resentments; Yazidi festive traditions; ISIS;
Summary/Abstract: No religious minorities in Iraq was more affected by the violence of the so-called ‘Islamic State’ (ISIS) than the Yazidis (sometimes spelled Yezidis or Êzîdî in Kurmancî) who suffered genocidal attacks by the jihadis in August 2014. However, the jihadist groups in August 2007 and in August 2014 were not the first to attack the Yazidis. For centuries they suffered under resentments and perennial violence by Muslims who accused them of ‘devil worshipping’- a well-cultivated misunderstanding of their ancient religion.

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