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egarded as “People of the Book”, also because most Yazidi religious texts have been
passed on exclusively by oral tradition. 362 Rather there are sources that consider them
a break-away from Islam, which would then render them “apostates”, punishable by death
according to Islamic jurisprudence. 363
The Yazidis worship Malak Taus (the “Peacock Angel”), the chief of angels, who is often
equated by Muslims and Christians as the “fallen angel” or devil. For the Yazidis, however,
devil and hell do not exist. Instead, the Yazidis believe that the souls of the dead repeatedly
return to earth until they are purified. The central role of Malak Taus earned the Yazidis the
undeserved reputation as “devil-worshippers” and has been the basis for a long history of
persecution. 364
The Yazidi religion, while incorporating elements of other religions, has its own rituals,
scriptures and taboos. Prayers in Yazidism are performed twice a day and are dedicated to
Malak Ta’us. Saturday is the day of rest, and Wednesday is the holy day. In December,
a three day fast is performed. 365 Their chief saint is Sheikh Adi Ibn Musafir, a 12 th century
Muslim mystic who died in the town of Lalish, 12 kilometers from Shekhan, where his
tomb has become the Yazidis’ holiest shrine and annual pilgrimage is the most important
ritual for the Yazidis. Unlike Muslims, Yazidis can eat pork and drink alcohol. Religious
rules such as the prohibition to marry outside the community or outside one’s caste or to
insult men of religion are generally followed, while others such as the prohibition to eat
lettuce or wearing the colour blue are not strictly observed. 366
Yazidi society follows a strict hierarchical caste system introduced by Sheikh Adi, who
reformed the Yazidi religion. The Yazidis are born into any of the three castes: the Murids
(the laity) and the Sheikhs and the Pirs (the clergy), 367 and, as mentioned earlier, marriage
across classes is forbidden. 368 Every Yazidi is linked as a disciple to a definite Sheikh and
Pir and is obliged to provide them with alms. The Yazidis’ temporal and spiritual head is
a hereditary prince (Mir), whereas a Baba Sheikh heads the religious hierarchy. The highest
Yazidi leader is Mir Tahsin Saied Beg, who is considered a representative of Sheikh Adi.
He is chosen exclusively from the family of the Mir and is appointed for life. He represents
the Yazidis in all secular matters and his decisions have full authority. 369 The current Baba
Sheikh is Khurto Hajji Ismail.
362 USDOS, International Religious Freedom Report 2006 – Iraq, see above footnote 28; Encyclopaedia
Britannica, see above footnote 356; Encyclopaedia of the Orient, Yazidism, see above footnote 353; Dulz,
Hajo and Savelsberg, p. 2, see above footnote 359.
363 See, for example, Savelsberg and Hajo, p. 6, see above footnote 354.
364 Encyclopaedia Britannica, see above footnote 356; The Independent, Hell’s Angels, 29 November 2003,
http://www.religionnewsblog.com/5213/hells-angels.
365 Encyclopaedia of the Orient, Yazidism, see above footnote 353.
366 Allison, see above footnote 355.
367 The Sheikh and Pir are again divided into sub-groups. For more information, see: Allison, see above
footnote 355.
368 Dengê Êzîdiyan, Fragen zum Yezidentum, Was hat es mit der Klassengesellschaft im Yezidentum auf
sich? [in German language], http://www.yezidi.org/144.0.html [accessed January 2007].
369 Ibidem, Der Religionsrat der Yeziden, http://www.yezidi.org/144.0.html [accessed January 2007].
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