Yezidis in Syria: Identity Building among a Double Minority

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Description

Yezidis in Syria: Identity Building among a Double Minority traces the development of Yezidi identity on the margins of Syrias minority context. This little known group is connected to the communitys main living area in northern Iraq, but evolved as a separate identity group in the context of Syrias colonial, national, and revolutionary history. Always on the bottom of the socio-economic hierarchy, the two sub-groups located in the Kurdagh and the Jezira experience a period of sociological and theological renewal in their quest for a recognized and protected status in the new Syria. In this book, Sebastian Maisel transmits and analyzes the Yezidi perspective on Syrias policies towards ethnic and religious minorities.

Reviews

This important and timely workfills a lacuna that has long been felt by students of Yezidism and others. It offers a thorough, scholarly, and much-needed account of the current position of the Yezidis in Syria, their religion, and historical background. The book makes a major contribution to Yezidi studies. -- Philip G. Kreyenbroek, Georg-August University
There is still great need for research, especially on aspects of Yezidismas practiced by different local communities. Maisels book focuses on identity issues among the Yezidis in Syria, a double minority group which constructed two distinct local identities in past decades, but is now moving towards a unified one. Thusthis bookis very welcomesinceitcontributes to our knowledge ofthe current situation of the Yezidi community in Syria. -- Khanna Omarkhali, Georg-August University, Gttingen

Author Bio

Sebastian Maisel is associate professor of Arabic and Middle East studies at Grand Valley State University.