Yazidism in Syria
Ethnoreligious group / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Yazidism in Syria refers to people born in or residing in Syria who adhere to Yazidism,[1] a strictly endogamous religion.[2][3] Yazidis in Syria live primarily in two communities, one in the Al-Jazira area and the other in the Kurd-Dagh.[1] Exact population data of Yazidis in Syria is unavailable, but it is estimated that between 10,000-50,000 Yazidis reside in Syria.[4]
Total population | |
---|---|
10,000-50,000 | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Aleppo Governorate, Jazira Region | |
Languages | |
Kurmanji Kurdish |
Population numbers for the Syrian Yazidi community are unclear. In 1963, the community was estimated at about 10,000, according to the national census, but numbers for 1987 were unavailable.[5] There may be between about 12,000 and 15,000 Yazidis in Syria today.[1][6] Since 2014, more Yazidis from Iraq have sought refuge in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria to escape the genocide of Yazidis by ISIL.[7][8][9] In 2014, there were about 40,000 Yazidis in Syria, primarily in the Al-Jazirah.[10]
Following the extension of the Turkish occupation of northern Syria into the Kurdish-majority Afrin District, reports have emerged of Yazidis in demographically mixed villages of the Kurd-Dagh region being targeted by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) because of their religious identity,[11] as well as having their shrines desecrated.[12] As in October 2019 Turkey invaded the north eastern part of Syria; several Yazidi villages have been targeted and their inhabitants fled to the region still under the control of the AANES.[13] Kidnapping of Yazidi women and girls by the SNA is an ongoing problem.[14][15][16]