In recent years we have increasingly seen the use of the term Ezdihkan from the mouth of the Yazidi political, public and religious figures. It seemed that this term has long sunk into oblivion and became a relic of religious traditions and was used only by the clergy, but in reality it is not.

Ezdihkan (lit. "house of Yazidis") once meant "country" in which Yazidis lived. These were the territories of settlement of Yazidis, which are now included in modern Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iran. Under this name there was no public education. There was a conditional division into regions (the regions, which means "district" and "the banner"), and each of them had their banner in the form of a metal image of a peacock "Taus". There were altogether seven such areas densely populated with Yazidi population: Shahan, Shangal (Sinjar), Hakkari, Haleb (Aleppo), Tavriz (Tabriz), Valete Hult (country of Hallow) and Sarhad. All of these areas and called Sidhana, but did not have clear boundaries. The term is also used in Yazidi sacred texts :

Cawabê bidin Êzîdxanê,

Bila qayîm bikin îmanê,

Şerfedîn mîre li dîwane.

(Beyta Şerfedîn)

Advise Ezdihkan ,

Let them strengthen their Iman (faith),

Sharfadin Lord of the Council.

(Hymn Of Sharfadin)

Gelî mêra werin bikin mesilhetê,

Dahir bûye Siltan Êzîdê minî padşayê dinê û axretê,

Dilê Êzdîxanê maye hidretê.

(Qewlê Êzîd)

About husband, come discuss,

Sultan Ezid the king of this world and the other world revealed himself,

And rejoiced the heart of Ezdihkan.

(Qawle Yazidi)

Mergehê û Meqlûbê sela, Selayê binîmeyê,

Сihê Êzîdxane ber Şîxadî dike ebadetê û sicûdeyê…

(Şehda dînê êzdiya)


Our prayer to Marge and Maclubu,

Holy places — where Ezdihkan prays and worships, Shihadi…

(The symbol of Yazidi faith)

In fact, the Yazidis had the idea of creating their own theocratic state centered in Sheikhan. But after a failed attempt undertaken by the spiritual leader of the Yazidis Sheikh Hassan (Chihsin) in the XIII century, the term "" Ezdihkan mean "Yazidi world." This name can be compared with the Muslim term "Dar al-Islam", i.e. "house of Islam" or "world of Islam", which was used in the middle ages. Pic.1

In recent times the name " Ezdihkan " is increasingly used by Yazidis and Kurds in relation to Chagall (Sinjar) and Sahana. Recently the leader of the PKK Murat Karayilan stated that the Yazidis have the right to establish the Yezidi autonomy Aidhan, referring to Shangal. He even explicitly stated that Shangal have to rename in Ezdihkan .

As for the symbols, Ezdihkan also has them. For example, the coat of arms of Sidhana is one of the oldest in the world and he carved above the entrance to the temple Lalish. The Yazidi coat of arms depicts two opposing peacocks, and between them the symbol of the world tree. Peacock in the Yazidi philosophy means the diversity and beauty of the world. In addition, it is a symbol of the Supreme angel Tausi Malak.

In many countries, the peacock was considered a sacred bird. In Rome, for example, the coins depicted a peacock, symbolizing the divinity of the Emperor's daughters. In early Christianity, the image of the peacock was associated with the symbolism of the sun and meant immortality.

Along with the opposing peacocks on the Yazidi coat of arms are depicted two opposing lions.

The coat of arms of Sidhana has been used as the logo of the different Yazidi organization.

The first organization to use this symbol was the Yazidi culture Center "BGA Lalysh" in Dahuk (Iraq), the creators of which were Yazidis from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (UCC) in the early 90-ies of the last century. But after clashes with the democratic Party of Kurdistan (PKK), the organization came under the control of the latter and is now a conductor of the interests of the Kurdish government and the PKK.

Pic.2

In the post-Soviet space, the coat of arms was first used in Georgia. In 2011, The spiritual Council of Yezidis in Georgia (DSEG) approved its version of the coat of arms as the logo of the organization, which is still used by DSEG and the House of Yezidis of Georgia. On the flag of dseg THIS coat of arms is located on a white canvas. Pic.3

Subsequently, the black version of this coat of arms adopted the site of "Yezidis of Russia", which was later borrowed by the youth organization of Yezidis of Oldenburg and the youth organization of Yezidis of Armenia "Sinjar". Pic.4;5

Metal banner of Tadhana still remained as religious flags and are stored in Baudre (Ezdihkan, North Iraq) at the Peace Palace Ali-run. But in the XXI century there were different variations of modern Yazidi flags, which were used as flags of organizations. It should be noted that all these flags are dominated by red and white colors, which have long been revered by the Yazidis. According to legend, it is in the clothes of these colors was dressed Sultan Ezid and therefore it is called Sultan Yazide SOR (Red Ezid).

Thus, the Yazidi flag was created in Armenia by the Union of Yazidis of Armenia headed by Aziz Tamoyan. The flag remained at the level of the community symbol and did not go beyond the Yezidi community of Armenia. It has a traditional for Yazidis red-white color, located in equal proportions in a horizontal form. On top of the left side is the sun, which is Taus – peacock.
Pic.6

After the fall of the Saddam regime, inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations in Iraq deteriorated, and in response to the expansion of Kurdish nationalism, the Yazidi political movement for reform and progress (al-Islah WA takaddum), led by Amin Farhan Chicho, raised his flag. It is a rectangular cloth consisting of two red and white vertical strips in the center of which the sun is located. According to some sources, this flag was created by one Yazid from Russia and launched on the Internet, after which it was picked up by the Yazidis of Iraq and made their party flag, but it never received General recognition.

After the events of 3 August 2014 that took place in Shangal, which led to the genocide of Yazidi militia Forces for the Protection of Shangala (HPŞ) has raised new Yazidi flag. This flag was raised in the territories liberated from the terrorists of the is. The formal reason for the emergence of the Yazidi flag was the conflict between the PKK, the PKK and the Yazidi militia. The fact is that the Kurdish parties imposed their flags on the Yazidis to raise above the Shrine of Sharfadin, which was valiantly defended from the militants of the is by Yazid militia. In turn, the Yazidis rejected the demands of these parties, resulting in a real scandal, which was localized after the apologies of the representatives of the PKK and the PDK. Pic.7

In fact, the question of creating the Yazidi flag has been brewing for a long time. The militia did not raise the flag of Amin Farhan's party because it was discredited.

Now the generally accepted Yazidi flag was the flag of the protection Forces of the Shangal (HPŞ) — a rectangular cloth consisting of three horizontal stripes.  Pic.8 The upper and lower white stripes symbolize purity and peace. The Central strip of red color means the memory of the victims, fortitude and heroism, as well as the dress of Sultan Ezid. In the center of the red stripe is the sun, symbolizing the Yazidis – the light of God.

Under this banner was shed Yazidi blood during the recent events in Shangal. This flag became a symbol of resistance of Yazidis. It is noteworthy that on January 11, during the recent speech of the commander of the protection forces of Shangal in the House of Yazidis of Oldenburg – the leading Yazidi organization in Europe, at the initiative of the yezidian philosopher Hoshang Brock, this flag was raised with unceasing applause. In turn, the famous Yazidi figure, poet Askar Boik called on all parties to respect this flag, because it is the banner of all Yazidis.

This flag was also recognized by the Yazidis of the post-Soviet space. So, after a recent meeting, the DSEGH the Board of the organization, the decision was made during marches, demonstrations, religious festivals and other events along with a banner the DSEGH and the state flag of Georgia to use the flag of Sidhana that had become a Holy symbol under which there was a struggle for the liberation of the Yazidi captives and Yezidi lands. This flag has become a symbol of defending the Yazidi honor, self-reliance, steadfastness, under which 4 months Yazidi militia defended the Yezidi Shrine of Sharfadin in Shangal.

Despite universal recognition of the flag from the Yezidis, a Kurdish government and the KDP consider the flag of Sidhana as hostile and not allowed on the territory that they control, while every Kurdish parties have their own flags.

Speaking about the anthem, Sidhana, it should be noted that it was created approximately in the XIII-XIV centuries. This is "the Anthem Sharfadin»:

Şerfedîne xerzê gulî,

Dê bi xemilî, dê bi xemilî,

Ew suneta sotî dilî.

 

Xîveta Melek Şerfedîne,

Min vedayî li Nisêbîne,

Serê terfa ço ezmîne.

 

Cewabê bidin Êzîdxanê,

Bila qayîm kin îmanê,

Şerfedîn mîre li dîwanê.

 

Cewabê bidine hey porîye,

Bila berdin reş xumrîye,

Şerfedîn mîrê edewîye.

 

Şerfedîn ji mixarê hate dere,

Sed hezar qewşen li bere,

Nûrî li alem hey li sere.

 

Şerfedîn ji mixarê derket,

Sed hezar qewşen li ber ket,

Nûrî alem hey li ser ket.

 

Şerfedîn berê xwe ji mixarê wergêra,

Sed hezar qewşen vêra,

Hesp di bozin, zîn zêre.

 

Şerfedîn wê tê ji xerbe,

Rast û çep dihingêvt dirbe,

Xafil dê mirim ji kerbe.


Scarf with curls,

He dressed up.,

And the Yazidis ' heart burned down.

 

Tent Malak Sharfadin,

Situated in Nisibene,

And ascended to heaven.

 

Advise Ezdihkan,

Let them strengthen Iman (faith),

Sharfadin ruler on the Council.

 

Tell those with braids,

Let go of black hair,

Sharfadin the ruler of adavits (Yezidis).

 

Sharfadin came out of the cave,

And a hundred thousand troops with him,

And the light he exudes in the light.

 

Sharfadin left the cave,

And with him a hundred thousand army,

On white horses with Golden saddles.

 

The scarf comes from the West,

And strikes right and left,

The ignorant die of anger.

The hymn that accompanied religious rituals and festivals. Over time, it was used at the opening of various Yazidi conferences and seminars.

In connection with the tragedy in Shangal Yazidi singers RAID and ABO came up with a new anthem based on a poem by Haji Kirani. The words of the poem demonstrate the firmness of the Yezidi spirit. In fact, it is a Manifesto to all anti-ISIS forces praising the immortality of yazidism. The anthem was translated into the Russian language poet Catherine Ameyan and published on the website ÊzîdîPress. Here are the words of the hymn on the original:

Êzîdxan, Êzîdxan, Êzîdxan,

Tucar namire,

Çend biburîn dem û sal,

Ji duoza xwe qet venabe.

 

Hûn dinê sor kin ji xûnê,

Bikne jehir li me jînê,

Her navê me wê mîne,

Neyar li me şana be.

 

Berî we em oldarin,

Xwedî nas û kev narin,

Çend firman li me rabin,

Milet her bela nabe.

 

Em jî xudan Lalişin,

Bi tokê spî û xerqê resin,

Êdî em hilnaweşin,

Heger Ava reş rabî.

 

Em hinek şêx û pîrin,

Hin mirîd û feqîrin,

Xudan extiyar û mîrin,

Banga me wî Padşa bî.

 

Çend core bi me bikeşînin

Terqînî ser me bixûnin

Bo aştîyê em hîvîne

Û rastî wê her xuya be.

 

Ezdihkan, Ezdihkan Ezdihkan

Never Ezdihkan  will not die.

I will never forget their aspirations,

How many epochs and years will not pass.

 

The world is painted red by you

Blood, flowing everywhere river.

And bloody over land dawn.

Poison our peace.

 

But do not rejoice, cruel enemy,

Our name will live forever!

Believers we are God's sign

Will not leave you in the dark never.

 

Our ancient people will not disappear,

We will survive the genocide again.

You will pour a black mass of water,

But we will stand, we will live.

 

We have Lalish - Yazidi temple,

And shirts as white as snow,

Rags same black - all us

Designed from century to century.

 

Some of us sheh, and someone feast,

We have the Emir and akhtiyar.

Every one of us is mrid, some fakir.

The King of Heaven has given us a gift.

 

We will pass many tests,

But prayers will be read over us.

And hope on the world we live,

On view will be the truth the point.

Of course, it is impossible to predict whether the Yazidi autonomy will be created or not. But it's safe to say that Ezdihkan and its characters should be in the hearts of each of Yazidi. And this is the only way to preserve yazidism and Yazidis.

 

Translated by David Babaev