Yazidi in Türkiye (Turkey)


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Yazidi are a Kurdish people who follow an old religion related to Zoroastrianism, but which has remnants of Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Their origins are in Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. In Iraq they have been violently persecuted so many times in the last couple of decades that some have fled to Turkey in hopes of finding safety and the possibility of moving to the West.


Where Are they Located?

At this time, Yazidis are living in refugee camps in Turkey where they often lack food, water, and medical care.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They are mostly monogamous, though chiefs may take more than one wife.

They are a closed community which avoids prolonged contact with non-Yazidis, accepts no converts and will kill a daughter who marries outside the religion.

They have been misunderstood by their Muslim neighbors for centuries. They are scorned and despised as "devil worshippers," mostly because of their beliefs regarding the "Peacock Angel," which some Muslims interpret as the devil.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Yazidis believe God created the world and then created seven archangels to rule it. One of them, the Peacock Angel, passed a test by God in which he would not bow down and worship Adam. As a result he was made the "god of this world." This story is similar in Islamic teachings regarding Satan. However, the Muslim belief is that Satan was punished for not bowing down. The Peacock Angel is "Melek Taus".

Their world view revolves around angels. Besides praying toward the sun, they will fast for certain angels whom they think control the affairs of this world. They aren't supposed to wear the color blue or eat lettuce. Their holy day is Wednesday and they aren't supposed to take showers on that day. They celebrate New Year's Day as the first Wednesday in the month of Nisan. This is the day they believe the Peacock Angel comes to the Earth as God's representative.

Yazidis believe that they are descendants of Adam, but not of Eve. Instead, they have descended separate from others through Adam's other wife, Jar or Jer.


What Are Their Needs?

Today the Yadizis need to find a safe homeland, which will probably not be either Iraq or Turkey. Unless they find refuge elsewhere, it is only a matter of time before Muslims persecute them again.


Prayer Points

Pray for the light of Christ to shine upon the Yazidis in Turkey.
Pray for believers to reach out to them in their Diaspora.
Pray for believers among them to be accepted as Yazidis who believe in Jesus and not rejected as cultural traitors.
Pray for strong Yazidi based fellowships to emerge during their time of crisis.


Scripture Prayers for the Yazidi in Türkiye (Turkey).


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/20455/TU
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/20455/IZ
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazidis_in_Turkey
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/7078/turkey-isis-slaves
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/yazidis-in-turkeys-refugee-camps-discriminated-against-report.aspx?pageID=238&nID=95826&NewsCatID=341
http://www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng/Areas/Turkey/Turkey-of-refugees-among-the-Yazidis-in-Diyarbakir-163121
https://roarmag.org/essays/yazidi-refugees-turkey/
http://www.yazda.org/report-yazidi-refugees-in-turkey-and-syria-seek-legal-admission-to-third-countries-via-refugee-resettlement-programs/
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/Yezidis/


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Yazidi
People Name in Country Yazidi
Pronunciation yah-ZEE-dee
Alternate Names Yezidi
Population this Country 2,800
Population all Countries 782,000
Total Countries 10
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 20455
ROP3 Code 116305
ROP25 Code 308985
ROP25 Name Yazidi
Country Türkiye (Turkey)
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 50  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Diyarbakir refugee camp   Source:  Field worker
Country Türkiye (Turkey)
Region Asia, Central
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 50  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Diyarbakir refugee camp.   Source:  Field worker
Map of Yazidi in Türkiye (Turkey)
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
100.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Kurdish, Northern (2,800 speakers)
Language Code kmr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Kurdish, Northern (2,800 speakers)
Language Code kmr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Kurdish, Northern

Primary Language:  Kurdish, Northern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1856-2016)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1872-2005)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2008)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Kurdish, Northern Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kurdish, Northern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source manothegreek 
Map Source People Group location: Sasiroglu S. Ceri V. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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