You know, I was once one of those people who could be happy when I looked at my family, coming home from work, as my children asked me for money with big, sweet eyes. How my wife hugged me and shared positive emotions, seeing that I was tired, I still remember her perfume smell. Now all these are memories of a son, a husband, a father who fought to the end and lost. I am sitting in this cell at number 101, having forgotten my name, now I am only number 37. The last Yazid who is breathing and who has not much left. I look at the wall of this cell and see the events that brought us here…

Once Yazidis were prosperous people, who enjoyed, studied, lived, danced, went to Ziarat (temple). They spoke their native language and were proud of what they were and could become. Don't think that we didn't have problems or persecutions from our enemies back then. There was only one difference, we were together, as my great-grandfather used to say, "Koma ezidia" (community of Yazidis) . Then I understood and felt all the pride and delight in these words, understood the meaning of the power in these words. We knew that no matter what, "We will stand". How wrong I was …

Reading this, you will think about what could have gone wrong, what could have destroyed that very "Power", not that the genocides and persecutions by the enemies of our people could have destroyed that joy, that life. You know, I didn't fight my enemies, I fought You. You are the ones who killed my wife and daughter. You are the ones who ironically sneered at your native language. You are the ones who have forgotten your roots. You have replaced the joy of our ancestors with the smile of the enemy. You heard the ring of hypocrisy and said we are not Yazidis. You're standing on the other side of cell 101. You empty shells who were told to pick up your knives and stab your ancestral heritage. You are the ones who made me watch the life go out of the eyes of the Yazidi community. You are the ones who forgot the meaning of the words "Ez Ezdima" . You have become the ones our ancestors fought against. Our enemies ordered you to kill those who proudly called themselves Yazidis, they fell at your hands, and you yourself destroyed The Yazidi people.

I'm just a Yazidi prisoner number 37. Who fought and lost everything. The pride and strength of my ancestors will remain after me. This is my legacy.

Legacy of the last Yazid...

David Babaev

Yazidis.info