This article responds to İkbal Dürre’s claims about why Ezidis in Russia are not counted within Kurdish demographic statistics. Ezidis identify as Ezidi, not Kurdish, and Russia records them accordingly. Labeling them as Kurds ignores their distinct identity, their Sharfadin faithh. Ezidis reached Russia after the 1915 genocide that the kurds cmmited againt them.
The annual olive harvest in the sacred valley of Laleş begins on 27 November, as Ezidis gather olives that will become the oil to light every lamp of the temple. This centuries-old ritual brings the community together — men shaking the branches, women collecting the fruit, and temple workers preparing the oil that fuels the 365 lamps, a symbol of Sharfadin’s enduring light. Amid a year of drought, the harvest continues, linking the valley, its people, and the rhythms of the sacred season. In December, the lamps burn as the community looks toward winter celebrations: Aida Êzîd, Aida Xwudane (male), and Aida Sêsims.
A new report highlights rising hostility in Turkey toward Ezidis, Jews, Alevis, and Christians. Between 2023 and 2024, state institutions increasingly aligned with Sunni Islam, historic sites were reconverted, schools expanded compulsory Sunni instruction, and minorities faced harassment and attacks. The findings show that legal guarantees alone are not enough—protecting diverse communities requires political will, accountability, and respect for long-standing cultures.
