Yazidi in Australia

Introduction / History

Yazidis (also spelled Yezidis) is a Kurdish-speaking ethnic and religious minority group indigenous to Kurdistan, a plateau and mountainous area in contiguous areas of Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran. In August 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) carried out a brutal persecution campaign against the Yazidis living in the area of Mount Sinjar, Iraq. Regardless of their age and gender, the Yazidis were targeted because of their religious beliefs. Due to the religious extremism of ISIS, the Yazidis have suffered atrocities, including starvation, kidnapping and sexual enslavement of girls and women. Yazidi boys were trained to fight for ISIS. This attack resulted in high levels of forced displacement among the Yazidi population. Most of the Yazidis sought refuge in Turkey, Syria and Greece. Survivors applied for asylum and humanitarian visas to other nations.

In response to the crisis in Iraq, the Australian government has granted thousands of offshore humanitarian visas to Yazidis. Yazidis in Australia increased from 63 people in 2016 to 4,123 in 2021. They live in designated regional refugee settlement locations such as Coffs Harbor and Wagga Wagga in New South Wales, Mount Gambia in South Australia, and Toowoomba in Queensland. Toowoomba is found to have the largest Yazidi population.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Yazidi community often gets together for gatherings and celebrations because the preservation of culture, religion and language is important to them. They preserve culture through oral traditions. Resettlement programs teach Yazidis to be familiar with the use of the English language. There are plenty of opportunities to gain new skills and learn new trades. In addition, they enjoy access to safe accommodation, religious freedom, education and medical care in Australia.

What Are Their Beliefs?

They are monotheistic but their faith is complex because they believe in a fusion of elements from ancient Iranian religions, Judaism, Islam and Nestorian Christianity. They also believe that Jesus was one of the most important prophets. Intermarriage with outsiders is forbidden. They are highly particular about maintaining religious purity and hence their lives are guided by certain rituals and rites. For instance, certain foods, clothing and words are avoided being spoken.

What Are Their Needs?

Sufficient funding for access to support services – education, health and mental support. They need interpreters and social support workers to assist Yazidi to thrive in the new environment. Yazidis who witnessed the atrocities of war or have family members who have suffered from the persecution need healing from trauma, forgiveness for perpetrators and being set free from the cycle of hate and violence. Despite being in Australia, the Yazidis are concerned about homeless Yazidis who are still living in deplorable and unsafe conditions in Iraq. They want more ways to provide support to their people in Iraq (e.g., easier bank transfers). With their ethnic group decreasing, there is also fear of the loss of identity, and representation and fears of being stateless refugees with no place to call home.

Prayer Points

Pray that the Yazidis will believe in the divinity of Jesus as they hear the Bible's truth and share the gospel of love and hope with future generations.
Pray for God to heal them from the persecution and grant them the capacity to extend peace, forgiveness and mercy to those who have persecuted them.
Pray for local churches to welcome the Yazidis with love and acceptance and provide the practical and spiritual support they need.
Pray for Yazidis to experience a new sense of purpose, fulfillment and hope as they contribute to the new environment that they are living in.

Text Source:   Joshua Project