How Some Amateurs Ruin the Reputation of Ezidis
ISIS and Islamist propaganda, which is widespread across the internet, seems to be a never-ending phenomenon. Despite being the target of large-scale hate campaigns, the Ezidis have chosen not to react and have ignored these haters. However, recently, Ezidi Times has come across something even worse than online hate: so-called researchers—sometimes Professors and Academic Doctors—who have published extremely poor and unscientific articles about Ezidis. While misinformation is nothing new, certain so-called “researchers” need to be addressed due to the sheer absurdity of their claims and their highly unreliable sources.
This time, our focus is on a so-called Emeritus Professor, Rifaat Y. Ebied, who claims to specialize in Semitic Studies. This Mr. Rifaat Ebied published an article in 2008 in which he refers to the Ezidis as a sect and as devil worshippers. Although the Ezidis are unfortunately accustomed to such false and absurd misinformation, it is particularly disturbing when someone from the academic world promotes the same theories that ISIS believes in. It remains unclear what sources Rifaat Y. Ebied based his claims on or which researcher is originally responsible for this misinformation. It only takes one person to make such claims—whether intentionally or by mistake—for others to follow blindly like a flock of sheep. One particular passage in his work is especially concerning, although the entire chapter about Ezidis is appalling. It is deeply troubling that some researchers publish work on issues and topics they have not properly researched.
He claims that Ezidis recognize an “evil spirit” whom we supposedly dread, and somehow, he links the Ezidi faith to “satan”:
“Satan, then, is believed to be the chief of the angelic host…”
Can anyone recite a Ezidi sacred prayer, text, ritual, custom or belief that can be linked to the devil, the satan or other type of evil beliefs? Rifaat Y. Ebied, if you are truly a professor in semitic languages and literature, and have written for the The Encyclopaedia of Islam and edited journals devoted to Theological and Christian Arabic Studies, then you should now where you can actually read about devil worshippers, satan and the evil. It is certainly not in connection to studying Ezidis that you have found those ideas.
Dear readers, if this is not indeed hate speech and aggression against an ethnic group, then the academic world needs a serious reevaluation. We have always respected academia and believed that those who dedicate years of their lives to specific topics should be respected. However, Mr. Rifaat Y. Ebied gives us a strong reason to reconsider whether the academic field truly deserves our respect. Seriously, Mr. Rifaat Y. Ebied—where did you get your sources from, and how did you conclude that Ezidis are a sect? You and others like you, who spread non-scientific claims, are the ones who belong to a sect.
Although we are aware that his work about the Ezidis was published over 17 years ago, we still want to remind everyone that similar publications continue to be released in the academic world. Therefore, we ask our dear readers to stay vigilant and report authors who spread such hateful and false information as fact in academic publications. If you are unable to report or contact the writer directly, please send the information to us at Ezidi Times, and we will take care of the rest.
We must stop tolerating and turning a blind eye to statements like these. If we remain silent, others will write our history for us—and we fear it will not be an accurate or just history. After all, it is the same narrative that ISIS has used to justify the atrocities committed against us.
Please use the form below to submit tips and information about other academic works, books, and similar publications that spread false information about Ezidis.
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