Partnership Announcement
The Yezidi Studies Center (YSC) at the Oriental Institute, Leipzig University, represented by Prof. Sebastian Maisel, Dr. Qader Shammo and Sami Shamo, signed a memorandum of understanding and partnership agreement with Duhok Polytechnic University (DPU) today at DPU´s main campus in Duhok in the presence of Prof. Dr. Muayad Barakat, Vice President for Academic and Financial Affairs, Dr. Yaman al-Kamaki, Vice President for Scientific Affairs and Postgraduate Studies and Dr. Sherwan Sefdeen, Director of International Relations. With our new academic partner, we plan to conduct joint research projects, focus on faculty and student exchange, and ultimately strengthen our international network with partners who share our scientific and institutional vision and goals. With DPU, we will engage in various activities and projects focusing on improving the educational situation for marginalized and underrepresented communities, especially the Yezidis.
Third International Conference on Genocide and Peacebuilding
The Yezidi Studies Center with Prof. Sebastian Maisel and Dr. Qader Shammo participated in this 2-day academic gathering at Suleimani University from May 29 – 30, 2024. The Center for Genocide and Peacebuilding invited us to lead a panel exclusively on the Yezidi Feminicide/Genocide. Our PhD student Roshna Emin also participated in the panel. Prof. Maisel talked about Genocide and Peacebuilding – The Case of the Yezidis. Dr. Qader´s talk was about Reevaluating Islamic Perspectives on Yezidis in Post-2014 Genocide: Historical Comparisons and Contemporary Initiatives for Coexistence, and Roshna Emin spoke about her PhD topic, Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War and Genocide: The Yezidi Women’s Experience. A lively discussion followed the presentation. After the panel, the YSC team met many new colleagues and scholars expanding our academic network. Two other doctoral students from the Oriental Institute at Leipzig University, Niga Shawkat and Zaid Khalaf Ali, also joined the conference, thus making it a great representation of our team.
Congratulations to Nadia Murad: Inspiring Yezidi Students’ Academic Journey
The Yezidi Studies Center congratulates Nadia Murad on her graduation with a BA in Sociology from American University in Washington, DC. She accomplished this milestone in her academic career despite all the challenges she had to overcome. Nadia Murad stands out as a role model for many other Yezidi students, especially female students, who work on their dreams for education, knowledge and empowerment. Like she, many other Yezidi students were either prevented from going to school or had to leave school because of the discrimination they faced from their religious, political, and social adversaries.The Yezidi Studies Center has as its core mission the improvement of the educational situation for all Yezidi students, in school or university. We offer guidance on how to continue your education or to obtain a university degree. We support research in Yezidi Studies from various angles in the humanities and social sciences. Assessing both formal and religious education especially within the Yezidi community is one of our main research topics.We welcome the opportunities given to Yezidi students at universities worldwide and congratulate all of them on their academic success and accomplishments.
New Horizons: First Volume of Yezidi Studies Center Series Now Available
The Yezidi Studies Center in Leipzig University in Germany is thrilled to announce the launch of its first highly anticipated series of publications named “Yezidi Studies”, with the inaugural book titled “I Won’t Let Them Be Like Me: Ezidi Women’s Agency and Identity After the Sinjar Genocide” by esteemed author R. Katham Lechowick. The launch of “Yezidi Studies” represents a pivotal moment in the scholarly discourse surrounding Yezidi culture, providing a dedicated platform for researchers and academics to delve into the multifaceted dimensions of Yezidi history, beliefs, and practices. With an unwavering commitment to inclusivity, the Yezidi Studies Center aims to amplify diverse voices from within the Yezidi community and beyond, fostering greater understanding and appreciation for this ancient and resilient culture. Through rigorous research and interdisciplinary collaboration, the “Yezidi Studies” series endeavors to challenge existing paradigms, illuminate untold stories, and foster meaningful dialogue across cultural boundaries. Each publication within the series promises to offer fresh insights and perspectives, enriching the academic landscape and contributing to a deeper understanding of Yezidi heritage. Furthermore, the Yezidi Studies Center extends an open invitation to scholars actively working in the field of Yezidi studies to submit their book manuscripts for consideration in future volumes of the series. This inclusive approach reflects the Center’s commitment to nurturing collaboration and promoting the dissemination of diverse perspectives within the academic community.
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 Ph.D. 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. Every year, 1 to 2 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. 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 Ph.D. proposal: max. 5 pages that include 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, 2024. After approval, the selected candidate may start their work on October 1, 2024. Residence in Germany is not required. The thesis may be written in German or English. Prof. Dr. Sebastian Maisel Professor für Arabische Sprach- und ÜbersetzungswissenschaftOrientalisches Institut, Universität Leipzig Yezidi Studies Center Tel: +49 341 9737202Email: sebastian.maisel@uni-leipzig.de Schillerstraße 6 04158 Leipzig
Exploring Yezidi Religious Texts and Sites – Winter Semester 2023-2024 at the University of Leipzig
The Yezidi Studies Center at the University of Leipzig triumphantly concluded its second course, “Religious Texts and Sites in Yezidism,” during the Winter Semester of 2023-2024 at the esteemed Oriental Institute. This illuminating course, co-taught by Prof. Sebastian Maisel and Dr. Qader S. Shammo, garnered praise from students who lauded the depth and insight embedded in the curriculum. Throughout the seminars, the educators zeroed in on a specialized facet within the burgeoning field of Yezidi Studies. This discipline, aimed at a comprehensive and interdisciplinary exploration of Yezidi religion, society, and culture, delved into the sacred texts and sites integral to the Yezidi identity. Both in the historical homeland and the diaspora, the sacred holds a profound significance as a representation of Yezidi identity. Employing a sociolinguistic approach, the instructors meticulously investigated the impact, reinterpretation, and documentation of texts and sites considered sacred by various Yazidi communities. The curriculum encompassed the reading, understanding, and analysis of diverse text types, including translations, coupled with an in-depth exploration of the sacred Yazidi landscape through mapping exercises. The Center’s unwavering commitment to delivering a comprehensive and distinguished education on Yezidism shines through, marking a significant milestone in fostering understanding and appreciation for this unique cultural and religious heritage. This course stands as a testament to the Center’s dedication to unraveling the intricacies of Yezidi identity and facilitating a profound comprehension of their rich cultural tapestry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0qEfrOZ0Gohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1ipz4QKlaw
Yezidi Studies Center Reflects on Yezidi Periodicals at Munich University in Germany
In a workshop conducted from January 19th to 20th, 2024 at Munich University in Germany, Dr. Qader Shammo, representing the Yezidi Studies Center, delved into the dynamics of “Yezidi periodicals since the 1990s.” His insightful presentation explored how these publications have fostered communal bonds across regions, transcending political and symbolic borders. The workshop provided a valuable exploration into lesser-known narratives within Islamicate print culture, enriching our understanding of media’s role in shaping community ties. For more information about this Workshop click here.
German Language Course for Preparing Students for A1 Proficiency Test
The Yezidi Studies Center, in collaboration with Leipzig University in Germany and the Nopel Organization for Social Development in Iraq, presents an intensive German language course. Running from March 3 to March 28, 2024, the course meets five days a week, with two hours of morning and two hours of afternoon sessions. Instructed by native German speakers Rosalie and Lina from Germany, the program provides all necessary teaching materials and prepares students for a practice test for the A1 proficiency exam in the Goethe-Institute. Limited to 30 participants, the course fee is only $100 and will be conducted in Sharya/ Duhok. Contact Dilgash Saleem at +9647504294985 for more information. Enhance your language skills and prepare for the A1 proficiency with us! register yourself by clicking here.
2nd Outreach Tour of YSC to the Yezidi Community in Iraq
Congratulations to Our First Cohort of PhD students at Leipzig University – Yezidi Studies Center
The Yezidi Studies Center is pleased to announce the inauguration of its first cohort of PhD students, who start their academic work and research at the Oriental Institute, Leipzig University on October 1, 2023. 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 three candidates approach their topics from different thematic angles (art, psychology, religious studies) using interdisciplinary methodologies and diverse sources and languages: 1. Zaid Khalaf Ali: The Bereavement Program for Yezidi Families2. Musafer Qassim: Erhalt und Verlust jesidischer Symbole 21. Jahrhundert3. Ilyas Isa: Die Tradition der religiösen Gelehrten der Yeziden – Die Träger der oralen TraditionIn due time, the YSC will publish progress reports of their work on our website.