Our peoples: Yazidis and Armenians - we lived together a common history and it contributed to good relations between us

2019/07/65415-1564572661.jpg
Read: 2522     15:30     31 Июль 2019    

Cultural Center of the Yazidis of the Caucasus have interviewed the founder of the Yazidi youth Association of Armenia Avdalyan said. The interview touched upon the situation of the Yazidi community in Armenia and what it has to face


Please introduce yourself and tell us about your organization?

My name is said Avdalyan . In 2011, I created the Association of Yazidi Youth of Armenia (AEMA) with my friends. We deal with the problems of our nation, if it needs the help of foreign colleagues, we turn to them for help.

Yazidi community of Armenia – how many people are there in the community?

According to the official data of 2011, 35.500 Yazidis live in our community in Armenia, but it has been 8 years and I think that many have already emigrated to other European countries and to Russia .I also want to draw attention to another problem - many Yazidi families do not consider themselves Yazidis and have changed their religion.

In the era of globalization, when the preservation of nationality is becoming increasingly difficult, do you think the Yazidi community is able to maintain ethnic identity?

You know, the Yazidis community of Armenia has long honored and respected its religion and traditions. In Armenia, no one has ever forced us to change religion or not to honor traditions, not to speak in their own language, and this is still not happening. Our peoples: Yazidis and Armenians, we lived together a common history and this contributed to good relations between us until now. This was a great springboard for the common future. Also, this fact of "living a common history" helped us to strengthen our identity.

Yazidi culture, with the oldest traditions and historical heritage - are young people interested in their culture?

I would like to note that some of the old traditions of the Yazidis family are forgotten. Because of this problem, young people do not adhere to the old traditions, although they consider themselves Yazidis. However, I think that in the future fewer Yazidis will remember their culture. It would be unfair if I did not note that our young people are still interested in their religion and traditions, and therefore they are trying to get an education in order to help preserve and attract attention to their people.  In addition, I want to note that we are faced with the following problem, namely the fact that many parents believe that their children do not need to get an education and it is unnecessary because of the current lifestyle, so neglect it. This is most often the case for Yazidi girls. As for cultural traditions, as I mentioned above, some have already been forgotten or are on the verge of disappearing. It is very sad to see that our young people do not understand the meaning of some holidays. For example - Piece. About this holiday, many do not know why and when this holiday appeared. The lack of this knowledge plays an important role when young people change their religion to a more "popular" so to speak.

Do You have any examples of Your organisation of work in the cultural sphere? Maybe Your organization organized any events or were participants of such events?

In 2011, we created an organization (AEMA) and we decided that it would be better to start with reintegration – the return of young people to their culture and religion, and so we invited our sheikhs and peers. A number of events, meetings, lectures on these topics were held. The events were aimed at helping young people to get to know their people. These events took place and are still taking place in Zaryat. Our main goal is to help our people remember who we are. And the main goal is, of course, young people. In 2016, our organization made a documentary about the people who took part in the war in Karabakh in 1988. Then 45 people died . We also made a documentary about the people who helped to create warm and friendly relations between Armenians and Yazidis. The word people like Amoy shero, Mir Ismail, Jahangir Agha. Thanks to such people, Armenians still note that such people helped them in difficult times. Many Yazidis still do not know that during the Armenian genocide AMO shero and Mir Ismail saved more than 6,000 Armenian families. That's why we make such documentaries so that the world knows about Yazidis and what they did, we try to translate these films into different foreign languages.

Are there any state programs to support Yezidi culture? Are there any specific examples?

There is a Council of national minorities in Armenia with two Yazidi organizations. One belongs to Aziz Amal and second Jamal Satahan. The Council allocates money to support minorities. I would like to note that the Armenian state allocates 20 million drams (42 thousand dollars), but this is very little for the formation of national minorities. The government also looks at the planned activities of minorities, and at certain points, if approved, then allocate funding .

In the world, it is increasingly possible to see how private entrepreneurs and businessmen invest in the development of their nation and community finances for the development of culture and preservation of cultural and historical sites, the construction of religious centers, can such examples be seen in the Yazidi community of Armenia?

I can't say for sure , because I don't know the full picture. I can say that we have many businessmen, but it would be good if they paid a little attention to their people. I also want to mention businessman Mirzo Chel , who is now in Russia. He twice sponsored Yazidi students who could not pay for the University themselves. Thanks to him, various monuments and the Dawn were built in Armenia. Also currently under construction second Zarat. Mirzae Brow plans to open a Studio and library for the Yezidis.

What social problems concern the Yazidi community? Unemployment? Education issues? Is there support for the poor and the underprivileged?

Yazidis who live here face the same problems as Armenians ; unemployment , poverty, etc., in Addition to these problems , there is a problem of knowledge of the native language , spoken almost everyone knows , but few people know to write in their native language , and only a few at the academic level.

Emigration from the community is large and who mostly leaves?

Yes it is , but the exact number is difficult to say. Mainly young people are leaving. In the area where I live, only old people remained in Yazidi families. Unfortunately , not only in my area such is observed.

What national holidays are celebrated in the community and are there any problems with it?

In fact, we try to spend as many holidays : Aida Headername, Cloca Sarah Fat, Aida dirty Aida of the Taus Malek, Aida Shams. As for the new year, we celebrate it purely symbolic together with other peoples in Armenia. There are no problems in carrying out our festive events.

Are there Yazidi refugees from Syria in Armenia, if so, how do they help?

Were refugees from Sinhala 30-40 people , but it was difficult to integriruetsa because of the language barrier and local customs, however, the businessman Mirzae of Shelo helped them , like the Yezidi community , however, this was not enough and so they returned to Shangal.





Tags: #yazidisinfo   #yazidi   #ezidi  



Our peoples: Yazidis and Armenians - we lived together a common history and it contributed to good relations between us

2019/07/65415-1564572661.jpg
Read: 2523     15:30     31 Июль 2019    

Cultural Center of the Yazidis of the Caucasus have interviewed the founder of the Yazidi youth Association of Armenia Avdalyan said. The interview touched upon the situation of the Yazidi community in Armenia and what it has to face


Please introduce yourself and tell us about your organization?

My name is said Avdalyan . In 2011, I created the Association of Yazidi Youth of Armenia (AEMA) with my friends. We deal with the problems of our nation, if it needs the help of foreign colleagues, we turn to them for help.

Yazidi community of Armenia – how many people are there in the community?

According to the official data of 2011, 35.500 Yazidis live in our community in Armenia, but it has been 8 years and I think that many have already emigrated to other European countries and to Russia .I also want to draw attention to another problem - many Yazidi families do not consider themselves Yazidis and have changed their religion.

In the era of globalization, when the preservation of nationality is becoming increasingly difficult, do you think the Yazidi community is able to maintain ethnic identity?

You know, the Yazidis community of Armenia has long honored and respected its religion and traditions. In Armenia, no one has ever forced us to change religion or not to honor traditions, not to speak in their own language, and this is still not happening. Our peoples: Yazidis and Armenians, we lived together a common history and this contributed to good relations between us until now. This was a great springboard for the common future. Also, this fact of "living a common history" helped us to strengthen our identity.

Yazidi culture, with the oldest traditions and historical heritage - are young people interested in their culture?

I would like to note that some of the old traditions of the Yazidis family are forgotten. Because of this problem, young people do not adhere to the old traditions, although they consider themselves Yazidis. However, I think that in the future fewer Yazidis will remember their culture. It would be unfair if I did not note that our young people are still interested in their religion and traditions, and therefore they are trying to get an education in order to help preserve and attract attention to their people.  In addition, I want to note that we are faced with the following problem, namely the fact that many parents believe that their children do not need to get an education and it is unnecessary because of the current lifestyle, so neglect it. This is most often the case for Yazidi girls. As for cultural traditions, as I mentioned above, some have already been forgotten or are on the verge of disappearing. It is very sad to see that our young people do not understand the meaning of some holidays. For example - Piece. About this holiday, many do not know why and when this holiday appeared. The lack of this knowledge plays an important role when young people change their religion to a more "popular" so to speak.

Do You have any examples of Your organisation of work in the cultural sphere? Maybe Your organization organized any events or were participants of such events?

In 2011, we created an organization (AEMA) and we decided that it would be better to start with reintegration – the return of young people to their culture and religion, and so we invited our sheikhs and peers. A number of events, meetings, lectures on these topics were held. The events were aimed at helping young people to get to know their people. These events took place and are still taking place in Zaryat. Our main goal is to help our people remember who we are. And the main goal is, of course, young people. In 2016, our organization made a documentary about the people who took part in the war in Karabakh in 1988. Then 45 people died . We also made a documentary about the people who helped to create warm and friendly relations between Armenians and Yazidis. The word people like Amoy shero, Mir Ismail, Jahangir Agha. Thanks to such people, Armenians still note that such people helped them in difficult times. Many Yazidis still do not know that during the Armenian genocide AMO shero and Mir Ismail saved more than 6,000 Armenian families. That's why we make such documentaries so that the world knows about Yazidis and what they did, we try to translate these films into different foreign languages.

Are there any state programs to support Yezidi culture? Are there any specific examples?

There is a Council of national minorities in Armenia with two Yazidi organizations. One belongs to Aziz Amal and second Jamal Satahan. The Council allocates money to support minorities. I would like to note that the Armenian state allocates 20 million drams (42 thousand dollars), but this is very little for the formation of national minorities. The government also looks at the planned activities of minorities, and at certain points, if approved, then allocate funding .

In the world, it is increasingly possible to see how private entrepreneurs and businessmen invest in the development of their nation and community finances for the development of culture and preservation of cultural and historical sites, the construction of religious centers, can such examples be seen in the Yazidi community of Armenia?

I can't say for sure , because I don't know the full picture. I can say that we have many businessmen, but it would be good if they paid a little attention to their people. I also want to mention businessman Mirzo Chel , who is now in Russia. He twice sponsored Yazidi students who could not pay for the University themselves. Thanks to him, various monuments and the Dawn were built in Armenia. Also currently under construction second Zarat. Mirzae Brow plans to open a Studio and library for the Yezidis.

What social problems concern the Yazidi community? Unemployment? Education issues? Is there support for the poor and the underprivileged?

Yazidis who live here face the same problems as Armenians ; unemployment , poverty, etc., in Addition to these problems , there is a problem of knowledge of the native language , spoken almost everyone knows , but few people know to write in their native language , and only a few at the academic level.

Emigration from the community is large and who mostly leaves?

Yes it is , but the exact number is difficult to say. Mainly young people are leaving. In the area where I live, only old people remained in Yazidi families. Unfortunately , not only in my area such is observed.

What national holidays are celebrated in the community and are there any problems with it?

In fact, we try to spend as many holidays : Aida Headername, Cloca Sarah Fat, Aida dirty Aida of the Taus Malek, Aida Shams. As for the new year, we celebrate it purely symbolic together with other peoples in Armenia. There are no problems in carrying out our festive events.

Are there Yazidi refugees from Syria in Armenia, if so, how do they help?

Were refugees from Sinhala 30-40 people , but it was difficult to integriruetsa because of the language barrier and local customs, however, the businessman Mirzae of Shelo helped them , like the Yezidi community , however, this was not enough and so they returned to Shangal.





Tags: #yazidisinfo   #yazidi   #ezidi