Without Educated Girls – There Is No Ezdixan
Last year, Armenia changed its law regarding the age limit for marriage. Previously, the legal age for marriage was 18 years old, but with parental permission, individuals as young as 16 could also have their marriages registered. As of September 11, 2024, this is no longer possible, and all individuals who wish to register their marriage in Armenia must be at least 18 years old, with no exceptions.
Symbolically, the author of this legislative amendment was the Ezidi MP Rustam Bakoyan, who also serves as the Deputy Chair of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs. Although child marriages occur among Armenians as well, the overwhelming majority take place within the Ezidi population of Armenia. For instance, out of 1,319 Ezidi girls enrolled in public schools during the 2023–2024 academic year, 171 dropped out of the educational system in 2023 alone. Rustam Bakoyan has emphasized that early marriages negatively impact underage girls. Their rights to social protection, health care, and education are being violated.
In December 2024, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination praised the efforts of Armenian legislators for changing the law and removing all exceptions to the minimum marriage age of 18. However, the committee still expressed concern that child marriages remain common among the Ezidis in Armenia, especially since unregistered marriages are particularly frequent in the Ezidi population.
Not Only About Marriage – It is About Our Future Survival
Although Armenia is perhaps the safest and most supportive country for Ezidis in terms of security and the ability to preserve and protect their unique ethnic and religious identity, the occurrence of child marriages remains a serious issue. Both Ezidi boys and girls marry before turning 18, but it is more common for underage girls to be married off, often to spouses who are at least 18 or older. The desire to marry is personal and should not be dictated by social norms. However, in the case of Ezidi girls in Armenia, the problem is that many do not have a real choice. They are often raised with the belief that pursuing a career is unnecessary, as they will be married off regardless. This mindset is damaging not only for Ezidi society as a whole but also for each individual girl.
Girls who get married before the age of 18 tend to become mothers at a very young age. Being adolescents themselves, they are expected to care for a child—not only physically but also emotionally and intellectually. Yes, anyone can marry and have children, but children do not only need food, sleep, and proper clothing. They also need care, protection, and parental guidance. Expecting a 17-year-old to fulfill this role—something even people in their mid-30s may struggle with—is simply unrealistic. Children raised by educated and socially stable parents have a much better chance of achieving the same, whereas parents without higher education or careers often struggle to provide that level of support.
Needless to say, this is not to assume that only educated people make good parents. However, parents with a solid education and a stable career are better equipped to support their children socially, mentally, economically, and intellectually. This issue is not unique to Ezidis; all minorities across the world face similar challenges. For instance, the loss of the mother tongue is a pressing concern, as children often grow up more fluent in the dominant language of the country they live in, rather than their native language. Allowing girls and women to receive a good education and establish themselves as independent adults increases the chances that they will recognize the importance of teaching their children the Ezidi language (Ezdiki).
Another reason why early marriage is harmful is the increased risk of divorce. While it may be difficult to determine the exact causes of divorce, one thing is clear: when women are allowed to marry the partner of their choice without social pressure or coercion, the likelihood of a lasting marriage is higher. Child marriages—especially forced ones—have long-term negative effects on mental health and marital harmony.
Having more educated and well-established individuals benefits all Ezidis (mlete Ezdia) across the world. With more empowered Ezidis, we stand a better chance of protecting ourselves, having our voices heard internationally, and perhaps even achieving our collective dream of rebuilding our ancestral homeland, Ezdixan. But we cannot achieve this by relying solely on men. We need both male and female Ezidis who are educated, respected, and hold high-level positions. That is the path to true success and prosperity. Forcing girls into early marriages solely to bear children—children who, due to a lack of access to proper education and career development, are unlikely to become strong contributors to our society—while expecting men to shoulder all the burden, is naïve. Just look at any successful nation: observe how their women equally contribute to solving collective problems. See how strong and prosperous those societies are.
And remember—Sharfadin, unlike many other religions, does not discriminate between men and women. We have been too heavily influenced by the dystopian patriarchal societies around us, and in that process, we have turned into a people with no hope and no chance of survival.
