Ezdina Organization held its fourth introductory seminar entitled "I am a Yazidi, I invite you to know me" on 03.10.2020, at the Cultural Center in the city of Raqqa.
The Yazidi journalist Jaber Jindo and the Yazidi activist in civil society issues Madeline Chako, lectured the seminar.
The Participants:
About 54 activists and media personalities in the city of Raqqa participated in the seminar. However the female participation rate was 44.4 %, while the male participation rate was 55.6%.
Participants in the seminar were of different age groups (youth, elderly).
Serminar’s Topics:
- Introducing the Yazidi religion, their customs, rituals and the holy places of the Yazidi religion.
- The role of women in the Yazidi community.
- The geographical distribution of Yazidis in the world in general, and in Syria in particular.
- Talking about the historical roots of the Yazidi religion.
- The seminar also included statements of the guests, including a speech by the director of Al-Raqqa Museum, Mr. Mohammed Ezzo, a poem by the poet Maria Al-Ajili, and a talk about the experience of some people in liberating the Yazidis such as Mrs. Fayrouz Mohammed, Ms. Kafa’a Sinjar and Mr. Abdul Salam Hamsurk, in addition to a folklore link.
What did the seminar discussed
The seminar emphasized the importance of the role of the Yazidis in Syria, the need to remove the bad stereotype against them, find supporters for the Yazidi cause, and strengthen the role of fraternity between all the religious components in the region.
The seminar also confirmed that the Yazidism is a religion in itself and not a sect belonging to another religion, and that the Yazidis believe in reincarnation, and that they have supplications instead of prayers.
The seminar also referred to equality between men and women in the Yazidi religion, and that Yazidi women suffered greatly because they were the first target of the invaders and committed the most heinous types of violence against them, and recently many women have taken on the task of defending the Yazidis and they have gained international awards.
Seminar Outcomes:
The seminar contributed to introducing the Yazidi religion more and clarifying ideas that were vague to some people. A group of activists took part in asking their questions to the lecturers of the discussion, where the civil activist Ibrahim Al-Ubaid from the city of Raqqa, asked about the religious classes in the Yazidi religion, Jaber Jindo answered that there are three religious classes among the Yazidis, which are "Pir, Sheikh and Mureed".
An archaeologist from the city of Raqqa, Mohammed Ezzo, also asked about the rumor that the Yazidis do not eat lettuce, and that they do not leave the circle around them or are placed in it, as Jindo confirmed that the circle in the Yazidi religion has a special philosophy that expresses customs, traditions, religion and ethics, so it does not mean whoever enters the circle can get out of it because he feels that he is leaving his religion and Yazidi customs. Jindo explained that eating lettuce is not forbidden according to religious texts, but there are many social stories that have been told about the prohibition of lettuce and they remain rumors.
The civil activist Ibrahim Ghazim also inquired about the aspirations of the Yazidis and Ezdina Organization and their point of view about the people of the city of Raqqa before that the terrorist organization "ISIS" controlled it.
During the seminar, Ezdina Organization honored some personalities, institutions and initiatives that had a crucial role in promoting civil peace and fraternity between the religious and national components in northeastern Syria.
Ezdina dedicated the “Fraternity Shield” to the activist Layla Mustafa, for her effective efforts and activities in promoting civil peace and brotherhood between the religious and national components in northeastern Syria.
Ezdina also dedicated the “Fraternity Shield” to the Religious Affairs Institution in Raqqa for its efforts in serving society, promoting civil peace, and preserving moderate religious discourse believing in religious and national pluralism and respect for the different other, represented by Mr. Ali Al-Nayef.
Ezdina also dedicatedd the “Fraternity Shield” to the Adrenaline Initiative, represented by Mr. Saleh Al-Darwish, who is a competent activist known for his volunteer initiatives concerned with helping people with special needs and displaced people.
Also a “Fraternity Shield” was dedicated to Mr. Mohammad Ezzo, Director of the Museum of Raqqa, and a former lecturer at King Saud University in Riyadh.
Also Ezdina dedicated the “Fraternity Shield” to the writer Maria Al-Ajili, who is one of the founders of the Organization for the Renaissance of Syrian Women, an organization concerned with the protection of women, and also one of the founders of the Beit Al-Qasid Forum, a cultural, social and artistic gathering based on restoring the cultural movement in Raqqa to its glorious past.
Ezdina also donated the “Fraternity Shield” to the activist and defender of women's rights, Mrs. Fayrouz Mohammed, who helped to liberate many Yazidis during the control of the terrorist organization "ISIS" on the city of Raqqa.
Also Mrs. Kafa’a Sinjar, a feminist and civic activist who helped free some civilians from the grip of the terrorist organization "ISIS" and is a volunteer in the Adrenaline Initiative received the “Fraternity Shield”, beside Mr. Abdul Salam Hamsurk in honor of his efforts in relief work since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, as his efforts doubled during the war against the terrorist organization "ISIS" and he was one of the first to deliver relief aid to the city of Raqqa in the last days of the liberation of the city.
Pre Poll:
1- Do you have general information about the Yazidis:
%61.1 No – %38.9 Yes
2- Do you know where do Yazidis distribute?
%41.7 No – %58.3 Yes
3- So far you know, do Yazidis believe in God?
%44.4 No – %55.6 Yes
Post Poll:
1- How would you rate the performance of the lecturers?
61.5% Very good - 28.8% Good - 9.6% Acceptable
2- How do you evaluate the logistical matters related to the seminar in terms of services and others?
48.1% Very good - 34.6% Good - 17.3% Acceptable
3- Did you gain any information during the seminar that could increase your knowledge?
100% Yes - 0% No
4- Did the seminar provide enough information about the Yazidi community?
78.8% Yes - 21.2% No
Do you have any feedback that you want to share with us?
- 73% hope that such initiatives will be repeated continuously, and hope that the Ezdina will inform them about all its seminars.
- 1% ask to hold workshops on Yazidi culture to learn more about this religion and to introduce more Yazidi women.
- 7% Intensification of seminars between the Yazidis and other components.
- 4% asking for more seminars.
- 6% also called for workshops to achieve more rapprochement.
- 8% repeat such seminars and activities.
- 1% suggest that there be a Yazidi person who was detained by "ISIS" to tell his story.
- 100% would you like to attend other seminars in the future.
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