Hyderabad: A delegation of the Yazidi community, which faced severe atrocities at the hands of Islamic State (IS) terrorists in Iraq’s Sinjar province, has arrived in Hyderabad on a special invitation from the organisers of Lokmanthan to take part in the national conclave and display their ancient traditions which are similar to those of the Hindus.
The IS had killed thousands of Yazidi men, thousands of women have been abducted and made sex slaves and their children were forced into slavery.
The delegation of Yazidi National Union (YNU), which represents the community, is seeking intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to represent their cause at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the protection of one of the ancient communities in the world from disappearance and creation of a safe zone in their territory.
Talking to Deccan Chronicle, YNU president Khdr Hajoyan said he was on his fourth visit to India after the IS seized large swaths of Iraq and Syria and launched a genocidal campaign against his community in the Yazidi homeland in northern Iraq in 2014.
The YNU leader said that his community had been reduced to just 2 per cent in the Kurdistan region as against 98 per cent 40 years ago. The Yazidis were replaced with the Muslim community.
Stating that the Yazidi community, like the Hindus, believed in the sacredness of fire, water, air, earth and face the Sun during prayers, Hajoyan said that he was seeking support from “Hindu brothers and sisters.”He pointed out that the Yazidis worship Melak Taus, similar to Lord Murugan, or Lord Kartikeyan and Lord Subramanya.
Hajoyan added that Armenia had given them shelter, where many Yazidis now live and have built their temple, besides practicing their culture. Russia and Georgia have also recognised the cause of the Yazidis and extended support at global forums.
He said that the Art of Living and many Hindu organisations had sent relief material and extended support after his first visit to New Delhi in 2015. But, support at the Indian government level is most important for them to raise their voice in the United Nations.
