Yazidi

Yazidis are predominantly ethnically Kurdish and have kept their religion alive for centuries, despite many years of oppression and threatened extermination. There are an estimated 700,000 Yazidis worldwide -- the vast majority in northern Iraq.The ancient religion is rumoured to have been founded by an 11th century Ummayyad sheikh, and is derived from Zoroastrianism (an ancient Persian faith), Christianity, and Islam. The religion has taken elements from each, ranging from baptism (Christianity) to circumcision (Islam) to reverence of fire as a manifestation from God (derived from Zoroastrianism), but remains distinctly non-Abrahamic. This derivative quality has often led the Yazidis to be referred to as a sect.

They’re often marginalized because they worship a fallen angel, Melek Tawwus, or Peacock Angel, one of their seven primary angels. Unlike Satan’s fall from in the Judeo-Christian tradition, Melek Tawwus was forgiven and returned to heaven by God. This has erroneously given Yazidis an undeserved reputation for being devil-worshippers — a notoriety that, in the climate of extremism in Iraq, turned life-threatening. For example, Al-Qaida denounced Yazidis in Iraq as infidels and sanctioned their indiscriminate killing.