Yazidism, Druze, and Mandaeism are three minority religions often described as “closed faiths” because they restrict both entry and exit. This article compares their doctrinal stance on conversion, the social mechanisms that enforce closure, and regional variations in practice.
This article examines the structural parallels and divergences between Yazidi cosmology and Zoroastrian dualism, drawing on primary Yazidi texts, Zoroastrian scriptures, and recent scholarship to clarify misconceptions and highlight regional variations.
This article examines the linguistic journey of the most important Yazidi religious terms, tracing their roots from Old Iranian languages through successive Kurdish adaptations. It highlights scholarly debates, oral tradition evidence, and regional variations that shape contemporary usage.
Yazidi feqirs are trained through a lifelong apprenticeship that begins in childhood, progresses through intensive study of qewls and sacred melodies, and culminates in the Şêwirmendî ordination ceremony. The process blends family transmission, oral instruction, and ritual initiation, preserving the community’s priestly knowledge across generations.
This article maps the network of Yazidi religious sites and community centres across German cities, highlighting the lack of purpose‑built temples, the role of cultural associations, and the ways diaspora communities maintain pilgrimage traditions. It draws on official listings from the Central Council of Yazidis and regional associations.
Since the 2014 genocide, digital platforms have reshaped how Yazidi communities gather information, negotiate leadership, and mobilise for justice. Social media, online networks and digital archives now complement oral tradition, creating new forms of collective decision‑making.
This article examines the Yazidi Batizmî and the Zoroastrian pādyāb ablution rituals, outlining their theological bases, ceremonial procedures, and cultural contexts. It highlights convergences and divergences, drawing on scholarly sources to illuminate how each tradition conceives purity and ritual preparation.
This article compares the Arabization campaigns directed at Yazidis and Kurds in Iraq from the 1960s onward, outlining state policies, demographic and cultural outcomes, and the varied forms of resistance each community mounted.
Since the mass displacement of Yazidis in 2014, the Kirasgorîn ritual—a communal blessing ceremony for newborns—has been reshaped by diaspora life. New forms of performance, digital transmission, and negotiated caste boundaries reflect broader shifts in Yazidi religion abroad.
This article traces the evolution of the Yazidi priesthood from the hereditary qewal reciters and the emergence of the Sheikh caste to the modern authority of the Mir and Baba Sheikh. It highlights oral traditions, scholarly debates, and regional variations across the Yazidi world.