In my earlier post Forgotten people of the Middle East part 3 we spoke of the Yezidi.
The Yezidi are perhaps the most enigmatic people on the planet. I read six articles on them and the opinions and facts were all over the map. The most indisputable fact was that they are misunderstood and have been persecuted.
http://www.yezidi.dk/yca/pages/the-yezidism.html
The Yezidi have been persecuted under various Islamic auspices Arab ,Turk and Kurd have persecuted these people. At the end of the article there are 34 examples of this persecution. The fate of the Yezidi is another people the left choose to ignore.
Real indigenous people are left to rot , while fake ones are promoted.
Apparently , the Yezidi did rescue 20,000 Armenians during the genocide by the Turks
and Kurds. This massacre of Christians is just another event that is swept under the rug. The fact that the Yezidis a highly persecuted people risked their own lives to save another persecuted people is a wonderful story. I have found references to the event on Armenian forums and sites. An article on this subject would be amazing reading. Sometimes man is capable of greatness in its nadir moments. The courage of the yeasty in the genocide should be praised.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
I was at my father's house surfing through his dead tree collection (his library) and I came across a book called Jadoo (1957) an autobiographical work by paranormal researcher John Keel (of Mothman Prophecies fame) and one chapter in that book is entitled "An invitation from the Devil" and is about time he spent among the Yezedi in Iraq.
According to Keel, the Yezedi are highly secretive and will not openly talk about their religion - devil worship - but from glimpses he gathered of it, it is primarily motivated by fear. The Yezedi do believe in God, but do not worship him, having the belief that God is supremely benevolent so no harm can come from not worshipping him. The Devil, on the other hand, being evil, must be kept sated or bad things will happen. They even forbid spitting on the ground to keep from offending Satan, who to them lives underground.
Strangely enough, Keel reported that the Yezedi he encountered all wanted him to stress to others that they were a peaceful people that just wanted to be left alone, that "Satan would take care of them."
It's a interesting read, I hope you can find the book in a library or online somewhere.
Mr Beamish there are a number of Secretive religious groups in the Middle East. The Druze and the Alawites come to mind .
The Yezidi have been persecuted throughout their history. Their experience a Marano type of resistence at times. Yet they have survived into the modern age.Who knows how many smaller religions existed in the Middle East.
I wonder if you caught the irony in this post. The highly persecuted Yezidi rescued the Armenians from genocide at the hands of the Turks. Perhaps
the bravery and example of these people puts things into perspective. A people accused of devil worship were more civilized
then the Turks in WWI.
Sadly, I could locate no articles on this rescue. I would have posted
them promptly. Sometimes we need a reminder man is capable of good as well.
From what I read of the Yezedi in Keel's book, they all carry a dagger knife (I forget the name of the knife) and they have a secretive martial art developed around its use and are skilled assassins. One of the Yezedi that Keel stayed with was an al-Husseini, so it's possible good ol' Saddam has Yezedis in his family tree somewhere.
The Yezidi have been in Iraq long enough . Yet the entire episode makes me wonder about the cult of the assasin that lived nearby. Some historians report it as fact
and others say it is an old wives tales. The Yezidi lived in the area and are known for secrecy.
I am still researching that topic
for a future post. Historians are divided and there are inconsistencies.
Again, back to Keel (I should have grabbed the book from my dad's library) there was a man named Ali Baba, not to be confused with the fictional character in the children's stories, that was a Yezedi fighter / assassin of heroic reputation, at least among the Yezedi in Iraq in the 1950s. Apparently he killed a bunch of Kurds who had turned on the Yezedi. I can't verify anything about this.
I wonder what the Yezedi in Iraq are up to now.
There are reports in the magazine AINA . They were being dennied the right to vote.
They are safe in Armenia where they are treated with respect.
Greetings all! I am currently in Iraq working with five Yezedi gentlemen. I could get some information for you if you have questions you would like to ask. Let me know.
Thanks
Post a Comment