Geography

The former Ba’athist collective towns of Iraq’s Nineveh Plains were devastated by ISIS between 2014 and 2017. Since 2018, a mix of local dialogue, agricultural programmes and international aid have sought to restore housing, livelihoods and social cohesion, yet funding gaps, security concerns and cultural heritage loss remain major obstacles.

From modest footpaths in the early 1900s to modern highways and diaspora‑organized convoys, Yazidi pilgrimage routes to the holy valley of Lalish have continually adapted to political upheaval, conflict, and reconstruction. This article traces those changes, highlighting the impact of regional wars and the post‑IS resurgence of the annual pilgrimage.

The Qewl corpus—Yazidi sacred hymns—shows distinct regional patterns in Sinjar, Sheikhan, and diaspora communities. This article surveys their linguistic traits, transmission modes, and scholarly debates, drawing on recent music‑ology and textual studies.

This article compares the historic sanctuary of Lalish in Iraqi Kurdistan with Armenia’s Ziarat Temple, examining their origins, architecture, rituals, and roles in Yazidi identity. It highlights both sites’ significance for pilgrims and their distinct cultural contexts.

Yazidi sacred sites in Turkey are recorded through visual ethnography, satellite‑imagery analysis, and community interviews, while preservation relies on local initiatives, NGOs, and Turkish heritage authorities. The process balances scholarly documentation with the community’s own memory practices.

This article surveys the documented shrines of the 8th‑century Sufi mystic Rabi‘a al‑Adawiyya, tracing their geographic spread from the Levant to the Arabian Peninsula. It outlines scholarly mapping projects, methodological debates, and regional variations in veneration practices.

Since the enactment of the Yazidi Survivors’ Law, hundreds of Yazidi women and families have received legal ownership of land in Sinjar and Sheikhan. These restitution efforts, backed by Iraqi authorities and UN agencies, mark a historic reversal of displacement caused by ISIS atrocities.

Kaniya Sêva, the “White Spring” of Lalish, is a karst spring revered by Yazidis for its role in the baptism‑like mor kirin rite. This article surveys its geological setting, historic development, ritual significance, and contemporary conservation challenges.

Since the 2014 destruction by Daesh, several international and local initiatives have been restoring Yazidi sacred shrines on Mount Sinjar. Key projects include the Mam Rashan Shrine reconstruction, the Pirafat Temple restoration, and the rehabilitation of the Malack Sheikh Hassan Temple.

The Yazidi architectural heritage of the Caucasus comprises a network of temples, shrines, and communal buildings that reflect centuries‑old religious practice and diaspora adaptation. From the monumental Quba Mere Diwane in Armenia to the Sultan Ezid Temple in Tbilisi, these structures embody distinctive motifs, funerary sculpture, and ongoing preservation challenges.