Yazidis and Mandaeans both practice ancient religions that predate the arrival of Islam in the Middle East.\u00a0 Yazidis mostly live in northern Iraq and are thought to be the descendants of the Sabeans mentioned in the Qur`an.\u00a0 The most famous Qur`anic reference to the Sabeans is in Surat al-Baqara where it says, \u201cSurely the believers and the Jews, Nazareans (Christians) and the Sabians, whoever believes in God and the Last Day, and whosoever does right, shall have his reward with his Lord and will neither have fear nor regret\u201d (Sura 2:62, Ahmed Ali translation).<\/p>\n
This Qur`anic reference would seem to imply that the Sabeans were monotheists, believing in the same God as the Muslims, Christians, and Jews.\u00a0 Indeed, the Yazidis believe in one creator God, who entrusted oversight of the world to seven angelic beings.\u00a0 One of these beings, Melek Taus, is somewhat similar to the Biblical Satan and the Qur`anic Iblis in that he is said to have fallen from grace, however, unlike Christians and Muslims, Yazidis believe that Melek Taus repented and he represents one of the most important religious figures in their belief system.\u00a0 Their devotion to Melek Taus has led to repeated charges over the centuries that the Yazidis are devil worshipers.<\/p>\n
The Mandaeans have also been referred to as Sabeans at different times in the past.\u00a0 They are a gnostic and dualistic religion, whose homelands are in southwestern Iraq, and their numbers are few in modern times.\u00a0 In fact, there are thought to be less than 70,000 Mandaeans worldwide today.\u00a0 Some have fled as far as to Australia.\u00a0 A reclusive group that has long separated themselves from fellow Iraqis, the Mandaeans place an emphasis on water baptism, to the extent that some have suggested they are descendants of the followers of John the Baptist.\u00a0 They are pacifist, egalitarian and family oriented, abstaining from red meat and strong drink.<\/p>\n
Both Yazidis and Mandaeans have been victimized by the unrest in Iraq in modern times.\u00a0 The Mandaeans have suffered from the sectarian conflicts in Iraq, with most of them fleeing their homelands, so that they now dwell in nearby countries such as Jordan, Syria or Iran.\u00a0 The Yazidis have been repeatedly persecuted over the centuries, most recently by ISIS who sought to eliminate them from northern Iraq during their short-lived \u201ccaliphate\u201d in the region.\u00a0 Yazidis were slaughtered, chased into the mountains, and many of their women were forcibly converted to ISIS\u2019s brand of extremist Islam.<\/p>\n
Yazidis and Mandaeans both face a struggle to survive and continue to practice their way of life in the modern Middle East.\u00a0 Check out the linked readings for more information about the Yazidis and Mandaeans.\u00a0 The first link is to a report produced by the Middle East Research Institute (MERI) in the wake of the ISIS genocide against the Yazidis.\u00a0 Section 3 is the most important part of the report for you to look at, since it briefly summarizes Yazidi beliefs, history and current situation.\u00a0 The rest of the report summarizes interviews conducted with Yazidis, some of the atrocities they suffered at the hands of ISIS and proposals for how to obtain justice for the Yazidis.\u00a0 The second link is to a BBC report on the Yazidis from 2014.\u00a0 The third link is to a 2014 report from The Guardian on ISIS’s attack on the Yazidis.\u00a0 It is noteworthy in that it contains a short video of a Yazidi woman pleading to the Iraqi parliament to help them in their plight.\u00a0 The fourth is from the World History Encyclopedia and provides a fuller description of Yazidi history and beliefs.\u00a0 The final link is to a video from the Religions for Breakfast series which goes into some detail on the Mandaean religion, its history, Scriptures, main beliefs, and current challenges.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.usip.org\/sites\/default\/files\/Yazidis-Perceptions-of-Reconciliation-and-Conflict-Report.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/blogs-magazine-monitor-28686607<\/a><\/p>\n