It has been half a decade has passed since the pro democratic Arab spring movement started which led to the fall of autocratic regimes in certain Middle East countries. The movement not only led to a chaotic political environment where multiple scattered organizations attempted to take control of the state.

One such extremist organization having established its control in the countries such as Iraq, Syria, and Libya is ISIS. ISIS has pledged to exterminate anyone who do not subscribe to their ideology. One primary group which is fearing its extinction at the hands of ISIS is Yazidis.

Yazidis are one among the few micro minority communities having their number less than a million across the globe. An estimate suggests that a little more than half a million Yazidis have their home in Iraq and the rest is spread across Syria, Germany, Russia and Armenia. Sadly this clan of people who do not desire to move away from their homeland have been constantly facing brutalities for centuries.

Yazidis have their homeland in the Kurdish dominated northwest region of Iraq. Their belief says that god created earth around 4000 years ago and then appointed seven holy creatures called heft sirr to oversee the creation. Melek Taus, the peacock angel is the Yazidis’ primary idol.

Yazidi faith is said to be a thousand years old and it identifies its first prophet in Sheik Adi. Sheik Adi influenced by Sufism settled down in the town of Lalish, about 15 miles to the east of Mosul. His preaching was instrumental in developing a structure to Yazidis’ faith and he was also a pioneer in communicating Yazidi faith to the external world.

Yazidis predominantly are monotheists with elements of nature worship. Fire, sun, moon, air and water are their five holy elements. Piously every Yazidi pays their respect to the sun, one of the principal deities thrice every day.

The history of Yazidis is no bed of roses. They have been facing threats of extermination from Arabs in the seventh century CE, Mongols in the 13th Century CE, then Ottomans and Arabs from thirteenth century onward.

During Saddam Hussein’s reign, Yazidis were labelled Arabs during the census and were not allowed to claim their identity. In between the time of US army invading Iraq and leaving the country, ISIS was born and slowly take control over Iraqi cities. When ISIS expanded their hold over the Kurdish dominated northwest Iraq, they began the genocide of the Yazidis as well. Abduction and rape of Yazidi women, selling them as sex slaves in the markets of Mosul, Rakka and Syria began.

When, majority of Yazidis rejected the offer for conversion to Islam and fled to the suburbs and forests of Iraq, some decided to take the bull by its horns. Many Yazidis including the women and children took guns in their hands to save their lives and fought bravely.

But, how long can a herd of deer evade the wolves. An estimate from United Nations suggested that, not less than 7000 Yazidis were killed and more than 50000 fled their houses and villages. Many among them died out of hunger, dehydration and lack of medical aid.

Shocked by this massacre, a Yazidi parliamentarian Vian Dhakil, wept and pleaded for help from the Iraqi government, but all she got in return was a wooden faced reply from all the lawmakers. Unfortunately, the main stream media, intellectual community and human rights activists have all swept the issue under the carpet and have shown absolute apathy. Sorrowfully, the world is a silent spectator to the obliteration of a small tribe at the cost of humanity.

Shashank M.A

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