Research Collaboration between Three German Universities and the Yezidi Studies Center to Explore the Image of Yezidis in Kurdish Islamic and National Discourse
In the past, Kurdish, mostly Sunni, Muslim scholars and mullahs issued various fatwās (religious edicts) regarding the Yezidis, clarifying their positions on various issues related to Yezidi religion and society. Recently, social media have become a platform used by many Kurdish clerics, particularly in Iraqi Kurdistan, to issue fatwās and religious statements directed at both Muslims and non-Muslims. These scholars and mullahs often use their own social media channels through live broadcasts expressing their Islamic religious views. These platforms have become more influential than mosques in shaping Kurdish Muslim attitudes toward the Yezidis. During the 2014 genocide of the Yezidis by the Islamic State (ISIS), Kurdish Muslims showed some sympathy for the Yezidis and provided them with humanitarian assistance – a contrast to their historical, mostly hostile stance. However, the Kurdish Islamic religious stance did not change and in the period after the genocide, numerous anti-Yezidi fatwās issued by Kurdish Muslim scholars and mullahs emerged. These fatwās and perceptions, often in the form of videos continued and continue to appear extensively on social media and reflect the persistence of negative religious attitudes toward the Yezidis. Kurdish nationalist parties, however, asserted that the Yezidis are the original Kurds and that it was the duty of the Kurds to protect the Yezidis from any Islamic extremism. This, however, did not lead to a fundamental change in Kurdish religious discourse toward the Yezidis and did not protect them from Islamic religious hatred. Furthermore, Kurdish parties rather limited themselves to political propaganda to exploit them for political gains. The project raises several key questions: What is the nature and content of the fatwās and religious perceptions issued by Kurdish Muslim scholars and mullahs toward the Yezidis and has this changed as compared to historical fatwās and attitudes? What is the role of the Kurdish political parties in this issue? And how do these discourses affect the Yezidi community? This research will analyze and study historical sources including archival evidence. Regarding contemporary Kurdish Islamic religious discourse, it will rely on videos available on social media platforms, a large number of which the researcher has already collected, along with documents available online and preserved by government institutions, especially endowments, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. And we will conduct personal interviews with Kurdish Muslim scholars and mullahs. Applicant: Prof. Dr. Andreas Kaplony Project staff: Dr. Qader Shammo Funding: Private foundation Duration: 15 June – 31 December 2025 Cooperation with: Prof. Dr. Sebastian Maisel, Orientalisches Institut, Arabische Sprach- und Übersetzungswissenschaft (Universität Leipzig) Prof. Dr. Robert Langer, Study of Religions with special focus: Islam, Institute of Cultural Studies, Universität der Bundeswehr Munich Yezidi Studies Center, Universität Leipzig. www.naher-osten.uni-muenchen.de
Call for PhD Applications in Yezidi Studies
The Yezidi Studies Center (YSC) in collaboration with the Oriental Institute at Leipzig University invites applications from potential PhD students who like to pursue a research project that relates to the goals and mission of the YSC. Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Sebastian Maisel, the PhD student will conduct research and fulfill all other academic requirements to complete his/her thesis in the field of Yezidi Studies. Yezidi Studies is an interdisciplinary field with a focus on Yezidi society, culture and religion. Proposals that include topics to further this agenda are welcome. In order to allow for a larger representation in academia, female Yezidi applicants are especially encouraged to apply. Up to two successful applicants will be admitted to Leipzig University´s list of doctoral candidates. This entitles them to the benefits of other international PhD students in Germany. After approval, the selected candidates may start their work as soon as October 1, 2025. Residence in Germany is not required. The thesis may be written in German or English. No tuition fees are charged. However, no other financial support is granted with the acceptance into this program. The Yezidi Studies Center will assist the candidates in finding scholarships. Please send your proposal package that includes: – a cover letter about your motivation to apply for this program– the PhD proposal: max. 5 pages that includes a working title, precise research thesis, suggested methodology, and bibliographical notes– CV– a copy of your MA certificate to sebastian.maisel@uni-leipzig.de by April 30, 2025.
Yezidi Studies Center Announces another Group of PhD Students
The Yezidi Studies Center is pleased to announce the second cohort of PhD students, who start their academic work and research at the Oriental Institute, Leipzig University. Over the course of the next years they will use their interdisciplinary skills and competences as well as the facilities and resources here at Leipzig University to produce innovative, first-class research in the field of Yezidi Studies. Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Sebastian Maisel, the four candidates approach their topics from different thematic angles (history, international law, pedagogy and education) using interdisciplinary methodologies and diverse sources and languages: Gülistan Ibrahim: Transformation des Ezidentums in der Diaspora. Bestandsaufnahme, Analyse und Reflexion über die Chancen und Herausforderungen religiös-kulturellen Wissens der Eziden in Deutschland. Mariam Mandekov: The Events of the Armenian Genocide and the Fate of the Ezidis in the Ottoman Empire: A Historical and Legal Analysis of Genocide. Linda Chicho: Reforming society through religious education and its impact on protecting religious minorities in Iraq. The case of the Yezidis. Sami Saleem Shamo: Religious and Cultural Variation Among the Yezidi Communities: Analyzing Cultural Components, Rituals, Sacredness, and Identity Perception.
Newly Released Book: After the 2014 Genocide: Islamic Scholars’ Perception of the Yezidis and Yezidism
What are the origins of Islamic hostility towards the Yezidis and their religion? Can the historical cycle of Islamic violence against them be resolved? And have Islamic jurists and scholars reconsidered their views on Yezidis and Yezidism after the genocide of 2014? All these are valid questions to which this work seeks some answers. For centuries, Muslim attitudes towards Yezidis have been shaped by Islamic scholarly decrees and fatwās. They in turn set the stage for subsequent religious rulings. The author compares historical and contemporary Islamic attitudes and actions with a focus on the perspectives of Muslim jurists and scholars. In his study he analyses the principles behind Islamic fatwās and other official statementsregarding the Yezidis. He explores not only the motivations behind them, but also their impact on the religious minority. The author wishes to contribute tothe knowledge and understanding of the past in the hope of thuspaving the way for a peaceful coexistence of Yezidis and Muslims. Click here to get the book.
Congratulations on the Graduation of Sami Saleem Shamo –A Member of the Yezidi Studies Center
We are proud to congratulate Sami Saleem Shamo on successfully completing his master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies of the Middle East at Freie Universität Berlin, graduating with good grades. As an active member of Yezidi Studies Center, Sami has made contributions to the academic exploration of Yezidi culture, Religion, and identity. His master’s thesis, titled “Beyond Survival: Exploring Changes in Yezidi Identity Perception and Religious Rituals Post-ISIS Genocide,” examines the transformations in Yezidi self-perception and religious practices in the aftermath of the 2014 genocide. Through interdisciplinary research, Sami Shed light on how the genocide, displacement, and political instability have shaped Yezidi identity and cultural preservation efforts in recent years. His academic journey is not just a personal achievement but a meaningful step toward advancing Yezidi studies in international scholarly discourse. As he moves forward, we are excited to see how his expertise will continue to shape research, policy, and advocacy for marginalized communities. Congratulations, Sami, on this accomplishment! We look forward to your future contributions and wish you continued success in your academic and professional journey.
Pir Khidir Suleiman and the Final Farewell
“What was he aspiring to achieve with Lalish Center? And why did he wish to meet Masoud Barzani?” Before his passing, Pir Khidir Suleiman Khalil carried numerous aspirations and secrets aimed at serving the Yezidi community – a path he had embarked upon since the 1970s. One of his main concern was to meet President Masoud Barzani to seek his support in transforming Lalish Center into an Institute for Yezidi Studies affiliated with the University of Duhok. This transformation, he believed, would create a greater opportunity to serve the Yezidi community academically and culturally. I regard Pir Khidir as the founding father and pioneer of the Yezidi enlightenment and intellectual movement in Iraq, which began in the 1970s. He left an indelible mark on history, playing a significant role in transitioning Yezidi religious and historical heritage from oral tradition to written documentation, thus protecting it from loss and extinction. His book “Gondiyatî: Village Traditions” was one of the first attempt by a Yezidi author to preserve Yezidi religious texts along with a part of their history. He also played a leading role in advocating for Yezidi rights both in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, contributing significantly to enhancing their status and amplifying their voice. Pir Khidir expressed dissatisfaction with Lalish Center’s performance in its later years. Before his final farewell, which was a short journey from Germany to Kurdistan, I had a 23-minute phone conversation with him. During the call, after inquiring about my professional and academic endeavors, I informed him about the establishment of the Yezidi Studies Center at Leipzig University and briefly spoke to him about its goals. He was greatly delighted by the news and shared with me his ambitious plans to develop Lalish Center. Pir Khidir said: “I want to go to Kurdistan and meet the President (Masoud Barzani) to request the transformation of Lalish Center, which no longer delivers as it once did, into an Institute for Yezidi Studies affiliated with the University of Duhok. If this request is not granted, I will ask for my name to be removed from the position of license holder for Lalish Magazine.” He also emphasized his great concern for the protection of Lalish Center’s archives, stressing his intention to transfer a copy of the archive to Europe to safeguard it against potential risks, such as attacks or destruction by fire. He further highlighted his commitment to collaboration between the Yezidi Studies Center in Germany and the envisioned institute in Kurdistan, should his dream of transforming Lalish Center into an academic institution be realized. Sadly, the pioneering figure of the Yezidi enlightenment, Pir Khidir Suleiman, departed before he could meet Masoud Barzani and before seeing his dream come true. The question now is: Can someone fulfill this aspiration, which he considered it as one of the most important of his life? My proposal, should this dream become a reality, is to name the new institute after the man who dedicated a significant part of his life to serving the Yezidi community: “Pir Khidir Institute for Yezidi Studies.”This would not only immortalize his name but also continue his legacy in serving the Yezidi community academically and culturally. Qader Saleem Shammo19/11/2024
Historic Progress in Yezidi Studies: Establishing a Yezidi Culture, History, and Heritage Department at the University of Leipzig.
Yezidi studies as part of their academic achievements. This milestone establishes a strong foundation for Yezidi Studies as a formal discipline, allowing future scholars to specialize and graduate as experts in this field. With this unprecedented progress, Leipzig University has set a new standard for the advancement of Yezidi studies in academia. In groundbreaking years for Yezidi studies, Leipzig University celebrated the successful completion of an interdisciplinary courses on Yezidi society, religion, History and culture, led by Prof. Dr. Sebastian Maisel and Dr. Qader Saleem Shammo. Throughout the 2023–2024 academic years, students from diverse backgrounds—including bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. candidates joined these innovative courses, which equipped them with a wide range of research methodologies to examine Yezidi heritage and contemporary community developments. Participants engaged actively, presenting research on varied topics related to Yezidi culture and religious practices, and expressing enthusiasm for the courses’ novel, in-depth approach. Their response underscores the rising interest and importance of Yezidi studies within academia. Offered Courses: Winter Semester 2023–24: “Religiöse Texte und Orte im Ezidentum” (Religious Texts and Sites in Yezidism), at Leipzig University. Summer Semester 2024: “Die Geschichte der Eziden im Osmanischen Reich” (The History of the Yezidis in the Ottoman Empire), at Leipzig University. Summer Semester 2024: Kurdish Language Course for students from both LMU Munich and Leipzig University, led by Dr. Shammo and Sami Shammo. Winter Semester 2024–25: “Sprache und Identität der Eziden” (Language and Identity of the Yezidis), at Leipzig University. The success of previous courses has inspired Leipzig University’s Yezidi Studies Center to expand its offerings and work to announce a special department for Yezidi studies at the University of Leipzig.
Defending Heritage: The Yezidi Fight Against Demographic Transformation in Sharya Complex
Announcing Historical Achievements in the Field of Yezidi Studies
Munich – October 28, 2024: The Center for Yezidi Studies announces the conclusion of an understanding for joint scientific support with the Universities of Munich and Leipzig, during a meeting between Professor Sebastian Meisel and Dr. Qader Saleem Shammo, representatives of the Yezidi Studies Center, and Prof. Dr. Andreas Kaplony Chair of Studies on the Arabic and Islamic world at the University of Munich. The aim of this understanding is to provide support for the projects of the Yezidi Studies Center, which will contribute to achieving important and historical achievements in the field of Yezidi Studies, and to enhance academic understanding of Yezidi culture and history. This partnership provides new opportunities for academic cooperation and research projects, and will be announced soon, which will push Yezidi studies to new horizons on the global scientific level.
Yezidi Studies at University of Leipzig and Department of Arabic Studies at Yerevan State University Collaborate to Promote Yezidi Studies
The Oriental Institute at the University of Leipzig and the Department of Arabic Studies at Yerevan State University (YSU) organized a joint workshop at YSU from October 1–5, 2024. a panel on Yezidi Studies were presented by the Yezidi Studies Center, which the representers Professor Sebastian Meisel and Dr. Qader Saleem Shammo emphasized on the center’s prospects and continuing activities while promoting Yezidi Studies’ mission, goals, and important work for the Yezidi community. They also looked into methods to improve Yezidi Studies’ standing and exrtends their activities. During their stay, the delegation visited the Yezidi community at Quba Mêrê Dîwanê, the Yezidi temple located in Aknalich, Armavir Province, on September 29. They engaged with the local community, learning about their current conditions and observing traditional ceremonies held at the temple in honor of Sultan Izi Twaf. Additionally, the delegation visited the Yezidi Genocide Commemoration Monument in Yerevan. They also participated in the opening ceremony of the statue of Jahangir Agha in Sardarapat Memorial in Armenia on September 30, 2024. Their visit also included a tour of the Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley, a site dating back to the 4th century AD, nestled in rugged mountains. The architecture of the monastery was noted for its resemblance to the style of the Lalish Temple, a key site of the Yezidi people globally.