By Mavi MirzaThe Yezidi people of Iraq have been subjected to 73 genocides in the last 1400 years. The ISIS attack on Aug 3rd, 2014, was the 74th genocide. In a bid to a forced conversion campaign, Islamic State militia slaughtered thousands of men and women leading to forced displacement of over half a million of their people, pushing them to live in deplorable conditions in the camps far away from their homes. Adding to their distress, over 7000 girls were kidnapped for sex slavery and those who were abducted still continue to suffer torture, rape and slavery in the captivity.
The Yezidi civilization is at least 7000 yr old. According to our beliefs the throne of God and Tawsi Melek is the Supreme head over all seven angels. The belief in reincarnation, the worship of the Sun as an energy source and the relationship between the Supreme God and the people characterize these beliefs; there is prominent belief in our religion that without these four elements (fire, water, earth and wind) there is no life possible to exist on the planet earth. Lack of belief in hell and prayers for the betterment of entire humanity are the key elements of our religion. The distinct connections with Hinduism is obvious.
In the last many years the Yezidi population declined from 21 million to less than 1 million due to several big genocides. But who would have imagined that a genocide could even possibly occur in 21st century, involving most gruesome and inhumane acts against humanity. But it did happen. Throughout this crisis, phone calls from Shingal (Sinjar) mountains never stopped ringing, as people fearing yet another genocidal attack against Yezidis frantically looked for help from their relatives living outside Iraq. Over time the cry for help grew frequent and louder.
But, YEZIDIS DID NOT GIVE UP THE FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTFUL EXISTENCE AFTER ALL.
Sadly though, it was the time when Ebola and others stories interested the world and the media more than the existential crisis faced by Yezidi population. As it was matters of hours/days for the entire population, if there wasn’t any immediate intervention, Yezidis could have been completely annihilated and eliminated from the face of earth. ISIS was closing in and the resistance was dying out and the food and ammunition of the Yezidis soldiers was depleting fast.
Unable to bear the plight of their people in Sinjar Mountain, the Yezidis association in Sweden decided to hold several protest demonstrate at different parts of Sweden, and also joined in with many others to demonstration in front of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. In addition to that, there were Yezidis from around the world who got together to draw world’s attention to Yezidis cause and to seek their help and support to save their loved ones back home.
Despite of all these efforts, it did not seem to help much to safeguard the lives of millions stuck at Sinjar area, and their hope started to dwindle fast. It was then, when Yezidis were discovered by a small group of Hindus, who gladly set out to help them in US, Canada and eventually in Sweden. The response of the Hindu community was much of a surprise for the Yezidis in Sweden as well.
After the media’s discovery of the news of the Yezidi genocide, the Hindu religious community was one of the earliest groups who started to act to help the Yezidis morally and materially. The Hindu spiritual leader, His Holiness Guruji Sri Sri Ravi Shankar immediately ordered the International Association for Human Values (IAHV) to Airdrop hundreds of tons of different types of food, water, winter clothing, and medical supplies for the besieged people at the top of the Sinjar Mountains. It helped to prevent the humanitarian disaster that would have otherwise befallen owing to the lack of food, water and other basic necessities of life. Had it not been the Hindu community’s support, the survival of thousands in the mountains would have been impossible.
Yezidis could not even imagine that there would be a religious community that would not only stand with them during their time of crisis but also work along with them to empower their community without trying to convert them, as the Hindu community did. Afterall, all that any generation of Yezidi can recall is only religious persecution and conversions.
I do not exactly recall, how for the first time was I contacted by a Hindu brother who was working with the Yezidi community in USA. The first meeting led to brainstorming, and the planning to rescue and relief started immediately following that. An international team of Yezidi nationalists globally was constituted and named as “Yezidi International Organization”. With the help of our new Hindus friends this team was send on a visit to India to garner support from the country that had been a home to the persecuted since millenniums. I vividly remember, when the Hindu community kept emphasizing on a phrase, UNITY IS VERY IMPORTANT, YEZIDIS MUST UNITE, and that is why we needed to form a team of Yezidis activists/nationalists who would work selflessly from their hearts to serve their own people.
Yezidi delegation embarked upon a three week long journey to India that was represented by Yezidi leaders and nationalists from US, Canada, Sweden, France, Armenia, Iraq, and India. The main focus of this trip was to appeal to the world’s largest democracy: India, to support the cause. Delegates met with ministers of Indian government, spiritual leaders and students. We were also invited to attend the global conference of the oldest religions in the world, an international forum where we got the opportunity to present our religion, history, culture, traditions and the contemporary situation.
The very first week of our trip was spent in Delhi, Yezidis delegation met many important people within the government. Foreign Minister, Ms. Sushma Swaraj held audience with the delegation. She described how she feels about Yezidi people and said “My heart bleeds for the Yezidis”. We had several meetings with the channels within the government to have our voices heard in India. Also appeared in TV interviews to prominent media houses.
During the second week in Bangalore Yezidi Global delegation stayed at Sri Sri Ravi Shanker’s Ashram, one of the very first religious leader associated with Yezidis as mentioned earlier. He was the first from India who went personally to help the Yezidis in Iraq and brought world’s attention to the plight of the Yezidi people. About 120 tons of humanitarian aid was sent to Yezidis by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in mountain Sinjar until the siege was broken, which saved thousands of lives. At Bangalore we also met some Yezidi students who are studying in India before heading out for the conference in Mysore.
In the third week in Mysore, the Yezidi delegation participated in the International Conference and Gathering of Elders at ICCS, Mysore. There we met with representatives from 40+ religious communities coming from 60+ countries around the world.
For the first time in Yezidi history we were invited to share information on our religion, history, culture, traditions, rituals and current situation with religious communities around the world. It is a unique opportunity and very big honor for the Yezidi community and we hope to continue to work with ICCS in future as well.
It was during this conference that we met the chief of the Hindu nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in India, Sar Sanghchalak, Sri Mohan Bhagwat ji and many other wonderful people. We felt deeply honored that they listened to us patiently and offered full support.
After returning to Delhi we headed to meet His Holiness Swami Ramdev ji. He gave us time, listened intently to our stories and gave us hope and moral support. We also met His Holiness Chidanand Swamiji at his ashram in Haridwar. He blessed and honored the Yezidi community by allowing us to do Aarti and Havan. He also promised to help the Yezidis to recover from their plight.
All these meetings and interactions in India, ranging from top politicians, spiritual leaders, social leaders, students and the people of India in general, were reflective of the feeling that we have very positive and supportive people behind us. Today, Hindus across the world stand in solidarity with us, and this means a lot to us, it also means, we Yezidis are not forgotten people. We got a very positive response from India as we have the support of a billion strong people. Delegation headed back to their respected countries with the hope to meet again in India in the near future.
As our Hindu-brothers and sisters say (Bharat Mata ki Jai, Jai Ezidxan)
The author Mavi Mirza is a Yezidi from Sweden and is the representative of the Yezidi International Organization in Sweden. She was part of the Yezidi delegation which visited India.
Source: WHN Media Network
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