Who Are The Yazidi? Iraq's Obscure Religious Minority Is Another ISIS Target

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria is notoriously hostile to Shiite Muslims, Kurds, Christians and other groups that don’t believe in its brand of fundamentalist Sunni Islam. But there is another, more obscure community in Iraq being targeted by ISIS: the Yazidi.



Displaced families from the minority Yazidi sect fleeing the violence in the Iraqi town of Sinjar arrive at Dohuk province, August 4, 2014. Reuters

By Howard Koplowitz on August 06 2014 1:34 PM

Who are the Yazidi?

Numbering about 700,000 worldwide, the Yazidi are a sect that combines elements of Islam and Zoroastrianism, the ancient Persian religion dating back to at least 600 B.C., according to the Theosophical Society of America.

What are the Yazidi’s beliefs?

While believing in one god, the Yazidi also believe in seven deities. The most important of these is Tawsi Melek, which translates to the “Peacock Angel" or "Peacock King," according to yeziditruth.org.

Where are the Yazidi?

In Iraq, where there are around 500,000 Yazidi, they largely live in the northern portion of the country, where ISIS has recently made gains by capturing the towns of Zumar and Sinjar. The ISIS advance led to as many as 200,000 Yazidis fleeing the area after they were given an ultimatum of converting to Islam, paying the "jizya" tax on nonbelievers, leaving or being killed.

http://www.ibtimes.com/who-are-yazidi-iraqs-obscure-religious-minority-another-isis-target-1650794