the people who lost everything
the story of the yazidis of iraq
Disclaimer: This article was originally created in 2021. While its content remains relevant, please note that some information may not reflect the latest developments.
part 1: the people who lost everything
In 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) committed horrible actions against ethnic and religious minorities in the Middle East. Some of the worst of these crimes were inflicted onto the Yazidi community. So, who are the Yazidis, what exactly is their religion and how are their lives today?
Yazidis are an ethno-religious group. They are primarily found in the Sheekhan district in Iraqi Kurdistan and the Sinjar district in Iraq proper.
Luqman is a tour guide and a photographer. He is also a local Yazidi man who lives in Sheekhan. He explains a little bit about his faith and the situation for Yazidis in 2022.
“We (Yazidis) are three groups. Yazidism is a closed religion, the group of Murid, the boys and girls marry inside the group, the group Shekh, and the group Pir, they also have to marry inside the group. There is no marriage between the groups or any groups.”
According to modern research, the name Yazidi originates from the Persian word of “Ized” which means angel or deity. Therefore, Yazidi simply means “worshipper of god.” They sometimes refer to the bible and the Quran, but the bulk of their traditions is unique to them and is orally told.
Yazidism also has a very rigid religious caste system, they are split into three groups Murid, Pir, and Shekh. Yazidism is a closed religion meaning no one can convert to it or marry outside of the religion but also none of these groups can marry each other either.
Yazidis have always been a persecuted and oppressed group in an Islamic-dominated society. Unlike Christians and Jews, they are not viewed as the people of the book by Muslims, so they were not always guaranteed the same rights as other minorities. They are also singled out and referred to as devil worshippers by both Muslims and Christians. Of course, Yazidis deny being devil worshippers but having this reputation has led to them being in some very tough situations.
Like in 2014, when ISIS captured the town of Sinjar and the areas around it in the Nineveh Governate. Thousands of Yazidis fled for their lives as ISIS killed the men in their thousands and rounded up the women to be sold into sexual slavery.
The large population of Yazidis in the Sinjar district was severely reduced after the genocide, as 80% of the population fled completely to other regions like Iraqi Kurdistan or to abroad, particularly Germany, which has an estimated Yazidi population of 150,000.
As of 2022, more than 70% of the Yazidi population is displaced, with most living in harsh conditions in refugee camps. One of them is Essien Refugee camp which is found on the outskirts of Baadre town.
Ismail Khalil fled Sinjar along with his family eight years ago, since then they have made Essien refugee camp their temporary home. They now live in three different tents about 15 feet wide each. He recalls the night which changed his life forever,
“It was in August 3rd when ISIS just invaded our home area which is Sinjar and they started (capture) at midnight. And there was a fighting until the morning and in the morning we (saw) nothing, but ISIS and we fled out. It took us about 5 to 10 days to go out from our villages to go to Syria and we just used our feet, we had no vehicle (for) transport... we held nothing, not even food. They just asked people to pay or convert to Islam. Or for Yazidis they would be killed even if they did those things. Even if they paid (money) or convert to Islam, they would be killed (by ISIS). But they (ISIS) just kept the women for themselves and (for) sex trafficking and human trafficking and for the slavery and those things.”
Even though Sinjar is no longer in the hands of ISIS, their home is not completely safe to go back to yet as the area has seen sporadic fighting between the Iraqi Army, the Peshmerga, and the PKK, whose presence drags in Turkey in the form of airstrikes.
As the years go by, the situation for the Yazidi community in Iraq, an ancient and unique group, becomes ever more precarious. With no solution in sight, after being abandoned by their government and forgotten by the international community, they continue to live their lives in limbo. Many are losing hope as Ismail explained,
“We felt that it would take days and we would be back to our homes, but you know, it’s been eight years since we are here... you know, this generation that grew up in such conditions are lost and hopeless. Because you know, the condition is too bad for them, and it is not adaptable for growing up (as) a kid.”
Luqman agrees,
“Most people don’t know their future, some people stay in Kurdistan, some people stay in Shengal (Sinjar), some people stay in camp, some Turkey, some people stay in Germany, the family, there is no family, yes, because the people lost everything.”
Part 2: life in a refugee camp and its effect on the local community
Yazidis are an ethnoreligious group that primarily reside in Iraq, but since they are neither Muslim nor Christian, they have always been persecuted. In 2014, ISIS invaded their homelands and proceeded to commit genocide on the Yazidi population.
As of 2022, more than 70% of the Yazidi population is displaced, with most living in harsh conditions in refugee camps.
One of them is the Essien Refugee camp, found on the outskirts of Baadre town.
Zaeem runs Pait, an NGO which helps the local Yazidi community, he is also a Yazidi, who was born and raised in Baadre. He explains how his town drastically changed since the ISIS invasion of Sinjar.
“Back in 2014, before ISIS invaded Sinjar, the place we are sitting in right now, it was just a flat field."
"After the ISIS invasion of Sinjar, after they attacked Sinjar and controlled the whole city, this place, which is like a very big field, became a big camp for more than 3000 families."
"They didn’t come to only this place but too many areas all over Kurdistan. The camps were supposed to be temporary but now they are not, they have been staying in these camps for almost nine years.”
-Zaeem
In June 2021, a fire burned through Sharya refugee camp, another camp close to Essien camp which is also housing displaced Yazidis, burning about 400 tents. More than 1400 refugees were left homeless again eight years after fleeing ISIS. Some lost the only little possessions they grabbed while fleeing from ISIS while other said they lost the little money they had saved up.
For Tala, a refugee from Sinjar in Iraq proper, who has been living in Essien Refugee Camp for eight years, a fire burning through their tent is something that she constantly worries about, and it even keeps her up at night.
“I would like the tents to be replaced for houses made out of concrete. Tents can burn easily."
"We get up two or three times every night to check out our tents and electricity wires to make sure there is no fire and that we are safe.”
-Tala
all photos taken by mohamed mohamed, 2021.