The Yezidi Studies Center participates in an international research project funded by the DAAD. The project “Together for the Yezidis: Minority Protection and Genocide Prevention through Interdisciplinary Dialog” addresses the historical and ongoing persecution of the Yezidis, who have faced genocide and displacement in the Middle East, with many resettling in Armenia and Germany. It aims to strengthen minority protection and prevent genocide through interdisciplinary collaboration among academics, policymakers, and civil society in both countries. The project has four goals:
- Researching the Yezidis’ history of persecution and effective minority protection measures.
- Creating an international network of stakeholders focused on Yezidi issues
- Empowering Yezidi civil society through cooperation with organizations like cultural associations.
- Improving communication strategies to counter misinformation and raise public awareness about Yezidi challenges.
By fostering academic partnerships, such as those between Leipzig University and Yerevan State University, and engaging in Yezidi communities, the project seeks to enhance integration, promote human rights, and prevent conflict. It also addresses the Yezidis’ precarious social and legal status, particularly in rural Armenia and post-2014 genocide contexts in Germany. The initiative promotes intercultural dialogue, cultural preservation, and sustainable mechanisms for minority protection, contributing to social justice and global stability.
Two teams from Germany and Armenia build a common framework of objectives and conduct field research in the other country with the support of the Yezidi communities. Prof. Sebastian Maisel is the principal investigator and leads the Leipzig team, Sami Shammo participates as a field researchers as does Mariam Mandeki, another PhD student from Leipzig and Dr. Gor Yeranyan from the Matenadaran Center in Yerevan, Armenia. Dr. Qader Shamo is the liaison of the German Yezidi community. The Yerevan team is headed by Professor Vardan Voskanian from the Iranian Studies Department of Yerevan State University and includes Dr. Tereza Amryan and Dr. Artyom Tonoyan, also from Yerevan State University. Mr. Khidr Hajoyan, the President of the Yezidi National Union, is the liaison to the Armenian Yezidi community.
