The Reformation and Development of Yazidi Identity from Theoretical and Historical Perspectives

Abstract

The genocide of the Yazidi people that began on 3 August 2014, at the hands of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), prompted a re-examination of the identity of the Yazidi as a religious minority. This article is, therefore, devoted to addressing the identity of the Yazidi who are in the process of transformation and reformation within the countries where they are located. This includes their existence in Kurdish territories and communities across different historical periods and theoretical contexts. This article will mostly focus on the scientific, historical, and political aspects of Yazidi identity. Despite the diversity of theories and hypotheses about the origins of the Yazidi people and their ethno-national affiliations, and the increasing rumours and allegations about Yazidis relating to their existence as a potential sub-ethnicity or ethno-religion or ethnic group, the important point that this study will show, is that the majority of Yazidis consider themselves religiously, culturally and historically different and distinct from other ethno-nationalist groups, nations and communities in the countries that host a Yazidi population.