The Ezid Fast (Sêwêra Êzîdî) is a three‑day period of abstention observed annually by Yazidis. It marks the spiritual preparation for the New Year and is governed by precise timing, dietary prohibitions, and theological symbolism.
Qewl and Beyt constitute the two principal genres of Yazidi sacred poetry, each serving distinct theological and ritual functions. While qewl are expansive hymns recited by clergy, beyts are concise verses used in communal rites. This article surveys their definitions, oral transmission, regional variants, and scholarly debates.
Yazidis.info provides a rigorously sourced encyclopedia entry on the Yazidi diaspora in Canada and Australia, focusing on the resettlement programmes that followed the 2014‑2015 displacement crisis. The article outlines demographic trends, policy frameworks, and scholarly debates surrounding community integration.
The Special Admission Programme (SAP) launched by Baden-Württemberg in 2020 offers expedited residence permits and comprehensive integration support to Yazidi survivors of the 2014‑2016 genocide. Implemented through a partnership between state authorities, NGOs, and the Yazidi community, the SAP has become a model for trauma‑informed refugee reception in Germany. Yazidis.info documents the legal framework, outcomes, and scholarly debates surrounding the programme.
The English designation of the Yazidi community varies between “Yazidi” and the Kurdish transliteration “Êzîdî”. This article surveys linguistic, historical, and editorial evidence to determine the most accurate spelling for scholarly and popular use, and explains why Yazidis.info adopts a particular convention.
Bedirxan, a prominent Kurdish noble family, orchestrated the 19th‑century massacres of Yazidis in the Sinjar and Sheikhan districts, killing thousands and reshaping Yazidi communal memory. The events are documented in Ottoman archival records, British consular reports, and Yazidi oral tradition, and remain a focal point of scholarly debate.
Germany hosts the world’s largest Yazidi diaspora, numbering over 120,000 individuals as of 2023. The community emerged through successive migration waves, notably after the 1990s Gulf conflicts and the 2014‑2016 ISIS genocide, and now maintains vibrant religious, cultural, and political institutions.
Yazidis and the Sayfo examines the experience of the Yazidi community during the Ottoman Empire’s collapse and the 1915‑1918 genocide, known as the Sayfo. The article outlines demographic impacts, regional variations, and scholarly debates, drawing on primary Ottoman records and modern research.
The question whether Yazidis are Kurds remains contested among scholars, community leaders, and political actors. While linguistic and geographic ties link many Yazidis to Kurdish culture, distinct religious doctrines and self‑identification complicate a simple ethnic classification. This article surveys the historical, linguistic, and sociopolitical dimensions of the debate, citing peer‑reviewed research and primary sources.
Cejna Ezî, the Feast of Ezid, is the most important Yazidi religious celebration, commemorating the divine figure Ezid and the renewal of the cosmic order. Occurring annually on the first Friday of October, it blends ritual pilgrimage, communal meals, and sacred music.