Yazidism

The Yazidis speak Kurdish. Their faith was reshaped in the 12th century by the Sufi mystic Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir, who settled at Lalish, the holiest place of the faith. Yazidis believe that God entrusted the universe to seven angels, chief of whom is Tawusi Melek.

They hold to the transmigration of souls and revere the sun, sacred springs and fire. The community is divided into three endogamous castes, the murids, sheikhs and pirs.

Neighbouring Sunni Kurds sacked Lalish in 1414. Yazidism was once the religion of Kurdish emirates such as Bohtan, but from 1566 an Ottoman fatwa by the mufti Abu al-Su'ud licensed the killing and enslavement of Yazidis.