Yazidis in Armenia
Encyclopedia
The Yazidis are the largest ethnic and religious minority in Armenia
.
Yazidis are well integrated minority. They have freedom of religion and non-interference in their cultural traditions (although this does not account for, as is the case with all countries, prejudices among the people of Armenia).
during the 19th and early 20th centuries to escape religious persecution, as they were oppressed by the Ottoman Turks
and the Sunni Kurds
who tried to convert
them to Islam
. The Yazidis were massacred alongside the Armenians during the Armenian Genocide
, causing many to flee to Russia
n held parts of Armenia. The first ever Yazidi school opened in Armenia in 1920.
, the Yazidi community has renounced its ties with the mostly Muslim Kurds that fled the country and tried to establish itself as a distinct ethnic group. The Yezidis showed Armenian patriotism during the Nagorno-Karabakh war
when many died in service.
Reports on the relations between Yazidis and the Armenian government have been mixed.
According to a 2004 U.S. Department of State human rights report
, Yazidis are subjected to harassment in Armenia, including the hazing of Yazidi army conscripts and poor police responses to crimes committed against Yazidis. A high percentage of Yazidi children do not attend school, due to poverty and a lack of teachers who speak their native language.
According to a 2007 U.S. Department of State human rights report
, "As in previous years, Yezidi leaders did not complain that police and local authorities subjected their community to discrimination".
There are 22 rural settlemens in the Republic of Armenia with Yazidi majoriy.
The biggest Yazidi village in Armenia is Verin Artashat
in Ararat Province with 4,270 residents.
and Ferik
, both in Ejmiatsin district.
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
.
Yazidis are well integrated minority. They have freedom of religion and non-interference in their cultural traditions (although this does not account for, as is the case with all countries, prejudices among the people of Armenia).
Early 20th century
Many Yazidis came to Armenia and GeorgiaGeorgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
during the 19th and early 20th centuries to escape religious persecution, as they were oppressed by the Ottoman Turks
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
and the Sunni Kurds
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
who tried to convert
Convert
The convert or try, in American football known as "point after", and Canadian football "Point after touchdown", is a one-scrimmage down played immediately after a touchdown during which the scoring team is allowed to attempt to score an extra one point by kicking the ball through the uprights , or...
them to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. The Yazidis were massacred alongside the Armenians during the Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
, causing many to flee to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n held parts of Armenia. The first ever Yazidi school opened in Armenia in 1920.
Nagorno-Karabakh War
Due to the ethnic tension created by the war with AzerbaijanAzerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
, the Yazidi community has renounced its ties with the mostly Muslim Kurds that fled the country and tried to establish itself as a distinct ethnic group. The Yezidis showed Armenian patriotism during the Nagorno-Karabakh war
Nagorno-Karabakh War
The Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the small enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh backed by the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan...
when many died in service.
Present situation
According to the 2001 Census, there are about 40,620 Yazidis in Armenia.Reports on the relations between Yazidis and the Armenian government have been mixed.
According to a 2004 U.S. Department of State human rights report
United States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices are publications on the annual human right conditions in countries and regions outside the United States, submitted annually by the United States Department of State to the United States Congress. The reports cover internationally recognized individual,...
, Yazidis are subjected to harassment in Armenia, including the hazing of Yazidi army conscripts and poor police responses to crimes committed against Yazidis. A high percentage of Yazidi children do not attend school, due to poverty and a lack of teachers who speak their native language.
According to a 2007 U.S. Department of State human rights report
United States' Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices are publications on the annual human right conditions in countries and regions outside the United States, submitted annually by the United States Department of State to the United States Congress. The reports cover internationally recognized individual,...
, "As in previous years, Yezidi leaders did not complain that police and local authorities subjected their community to discrimination".
Distribution
| Province (marz) | Yazidis | % of Yazidis in Armenia |
| Armavir | 17,665 | |
| Aragatsotn | 6,405 | |
| Ararat | 5,940 | |
| Yerevan Yerevan Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country... |
4,733 | |
| Kotayk Kotayk Kotayk or Kotaik is a province of Armenia. It is in the centre of the country. Its capital is Hrazdan. It is best known for its world-renowned beer of the same name.... |
4,097 | |
| Shirak Shirak Shirak is a province of Armenia. It is in the north-west of the country, bordering Turkey in the west and Georgia in the north. Its capital is Gyumri. Shirak is known as the homeland of khash. It is as much semi-desert as it is mountain meadow or high alpine... |
974 | |
| Lori Lori Lori may refer to:*Lori *Lori Province, Armenia*Lori , a nomadic community found in Balochistan region of Pakistan and Iran*Luri language , spoken by the Lur people Lorestān, Iran... |
793 | |
| Gegharkunik Gegharkunik Gegharkunik is a province of Armenia. Gegharkunik was named after Gegham. Gegham was a Haykazuni King and fifth generation after Hayk. Gegham was the father of Sisak of Syunid nobles and Arma the grandfather of Ara the Beautiful. Geghama mountains and Geghama lake, presently Lake Sevan, were... |
8 | |
| Syunik Syunik Syunik is the southernmost province of Armenia. It borders the Vayots Dzor marz to the north, Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave to the west, Karabakh to the east, and Iran to the south. Its capital is Kapan. Other important cities and towns include Goris, Sisian, Meghri, Agarak, and Dastakert... |
4 | |
| Tavush Tavush Tavush is a province of Armenia. The marz of Tavush is located in the north of Armenia and borders on Georgia and Azerbaijan.It is well known for its mountains. The most part of its territory is situated 800-1,000 m above sea level... |
1 | |
| Vayots Dzor | 0 | |
| Total | 40,620 | 100% |
|---|---|---|
There are 22 rural settlemens in the Republic of Armenia with Yazidi majoriy.
The biggest Yazidi village in Armenia is Verin Artashat
Verin Artashat
Verin Artashat is a village in the Ararat Province of Armenia. It sits adjacent to the ruins of the ancient city of Dvin.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
in Ararat Province with 4,270 residents.
Aragatsotn Province
There are 19 Yazidi-inhabited villages in Aragatsotn Province.| Aragats district | Talin district | Ashtarak district |
|---|---|---|
|
Barozh Barozh is a town in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia.- References :*Kiesling, Rediscoving Armenia, p. 20, available online at the... Gyalto Gyalto is a town in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia.- References :*... Tlik Tlik is a town in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia.- References :*... Hakko Hakko is a town in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia.- References :*... Sorik Sorik is a town in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia.- References :*Kiesling, Rediscoving Armenia, p. 20, available online at the... |
Shamiram, Armenia Shamiram is a town in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia.- References :*... |
Armavir Province
There are two Yazidi villages in Armavir Province: YeraskhahunYeraskhahun
Yeraskhahun is a town in the Armavir Province of Armenia.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
and Ferik
Ferik
Ferik is a town in the Armavir Province of Armenia. The town is named in honor of poet and revolutionary Ferik Polatbekov.- References :*...
, both in Ejmiatsin district.