azidi

Azidi is an alternative name used for the Yazidi people, an ethno-religious community concentrated in northern Iraq with diasporas across the Middle East and Europe. In Kurdish, the community calls itself Êzidî (plural Êzidiyan), and spellings such as Azidi or Ezidi appear in various languages as variants of that name. Historically centered in the Sinjar region and surrounding areas, Yazidis now live in Iraqi Kurdistan, Syria, Armenia, Georgia, Turkey, and many European and North American communities.

Beliefs and practices: The Yazidi faith is monotheistic, venerating one God who entrusted creation to a circle of holy beings, among them Melek Taus, the Peacock Angel. The religion emphasizes ethical conduct and ritual purity, with an oral tradition transmitted by a hereditary priesthood. Lalish, a valley near Mosul, is the holiest Yazidi site, and pilgrims visit it regularly. The religious calendar includes the spring festival Çarşema Sor (Red Wednesday) and Nowruz, with hymns known as Qewls performed by trained Qewals. Sacred literature is largely oral, and there is no single universally accepted scripture in the way found in some other faiths.

Organisation and society: The Yazidi community has a hierarchical clergy led by the Baba Sheikh, with ranks such as Sheikhs and Pirs. The Qewals preserve and recite the sacred hymns. Social customs place strong emphasis on endogamy and clan-based ties; marriage outside the community is traditionally discouraged, though practices vary by region and circumstance.

History and contemporary status: Scholars trace Yazidi origins to pre-Islamic Mesopotamian and regional religious currents, with long-standing interactions with Kurdish and neighboring communities. In 2014, ISIS militants attacked Yazidi communities in Sinjar, triggering genocide, killings, and abductions; many Yazidis remain displaced, with large diaspora communities in Europe and nearby regions. Today, Yazidis seek recognition as a distinct religious minority and work to preserve language, rites, and cultural heritage amid ongoing migration and conflict.