Ezidi Holidays

The Holiday of Xidir Nebî and Xidir Êlyas

The Holiday of Xidir Êliyas and Xidir Nebî in Sharfadin

Category: English 🇬🇧

Kurds Returning to Armenia: A Grave Security Risk

In the late 1980s, during the Armenia–Azerbaijan war, many Kurds left Armenia, openly stating they would not fight against their Muslim brothers. They relocated to Kazakhstan and remained there for decades, removed from the political and military realities Armenia faced. This development raises legitimate security concerns. Individuals who once refused to defend the state on religious grounds demonstrated that their loyalty was conditional. If loyalty is defined by religion rather than citizenship, the implications are serious. In any future conflict involving a Muslim-majority country, where would such actors stand? Armenia cannot ignore this question.

Guest Writer

Rudaw’s Obsession with Ezidis: Twisting Truth Across Languages

Rudaw recently published two versions of the same story about a fire at an Ezidi camp—one calling them “Ezidi Kurds” in Turkish, the other “Yazidi” in English. Beyond the inconsistency, the facts differ, raising serious questions about journalistic ethics. Why is there such an obsession with Ezidis, their religion, language, and history? It’s time for media to stop politicizing truth and start reporting honestly.

Ezidi Times

The Holiday of Xidir Nebî and Xidir Êlyas

The holiday of Xidir Nebî and Xidir Êlyas is one of the most important religious celebrations among Ezidis, honoring two revered saints associated with protection, love, and life. Though venerated across multiple cultures—from Iran to Armenia and beyond—Ezidis maintain distinct traditions that blend sacred texts, local legends, and ancient rituals. The festival involves fasting, special plant-based dishes, and symbolic practices such as pêxûn preparation, hair-cutting for blessings, and matchmaking customs rooted in dreams. Folk celebrations include communal gatherings, ceremonial songs, and playful rituals like dolidang, connecting spiritual devotion with social cohesion. Across history, Xidir and Êlyas have absorbed traits from pre-Islamic and pre-Christian myths, linking Ezidi practice to ancient regional narratives of divine guidance and the quest for life-giving waters.

Ezidi Times

The Holiday of Xidir Êliyas and Xidir Nebî in Sharfadin

The holiday of Xidir Êliyas and Xidir Nebî is a sacred Ezidi holiday honoring the immortal saints Xidir Êliyas and Xidir Nebî, guardians of life, love, and protection. Observed each year in February, the days combine voluntary fasting, preparation of symbolic foods called the Sacred Seven, and rituals that invite blessings into the home. From the mystical hoofprint sign to the making of Pekhûn, the holiday celebrates healing, divine guidance, and the renewal of both body and spirit.

Ezidi Times

Exposing the Kurdish Lies About “Ezidi Support”

Rudaw claims that Ezidis are “Kurds,” repeating the long-standing attempt by Neçirvan Barzani and the KRG to co-opt our identity. Ezidis are our own people, followers of Sharfadin, with our own history, rights, and voice. Germany supports displaced Ezidis because it is their responsibility, not because of Barzani. Calling us “Kurdish Ezidis” erases our identity, hides decades of marginalization, and tries to use us for political gain. Ezidis are independent, and no politician or media outlet can rewrite our history or take away our future.

Ezidi Times

Nadia Murad Meets European Parliament President, Renewing Focus on Accountability for Crimes Against Ezidis

Nadia Murad met with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola in a discussion reinforcing international attention on accountability for the 2014 genocide against Ezidis in Iraq. A survivor of the genocide, Murad has spent the past decade advocating for justice, recognition, and protection for survivors of sexual violence in conflict. The meeting highlights continued engagement between European institutions and global advocates working to ensure that crimes committed against Ezidis and their Sharfadin faith remain recognised and addressed at the international level.

Ezidi Times

Military Shifts at the Syrian Border Raise Concerns in Sinjar

Recent military developments along the Syrian-Iraqi border have drawn significant attention in Sinjar, an area that remains deeply marked by the events of 2014. The arrival and positioning of forces aligned with the Syrian state near the border has prompted heightened alert among local defense groups and residents, reflecting longstanding fears shaped by past violence against Ezidis.

Ezidi Times

‘They Were Our Friends’ — Betrayal in Iraq

Trust between neighbors can be as fragile as it is sacred. In northern Iraq, lifelong bonds between Ezidi families and their Arab neighbors unraveled in the face of ISIS violence. What once was a relationship built on shared meals, trade, and mutual support turned into fear and pursuit, forcing families to flee overnight. Stories like these reveal not only the brutality of violence, but also the deep emotional wounds left when trust is broken by those once considered friends.

Ezidi Times

ISIS Woman on Appeal Trial in the Netherlands

The Hasna A. case returns to court in the Netherlands after the defendant appealed the first verdict.From 9–12 February 2026, judges at the Schiphol Judicial Complex will review the case, which addresses ISIS crimes committed against Ezidis.
The hearings are public and will be livestreamed, with translation available.

R S

Recognition of Bangladesh Genocide: Assessing Through the Lenses of International Criminal Law

Bangladesh’s 1971 genocide remains largely unrecognized internationally, despite clear evidence of mass killings, sexual violence, and attacks on intellectuals. This analysis examines the events through international criminal law, highlighting the urgent need for recognition, justice, and remembrance—lessons that resonate deeply with Ezidis and all peoples who have endured systematic persecution.

Ezidi Times