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Related: About this forumIn Iraq, An Entire Religion Faces Extinction For Something It Doesn’t Believe
A Yazidi man. (CREDIT: AP)
by Jack Jenkins
Posted on August 9, 2014 at 10:30 am Updated: August 9, 2014 at 11:10 am
When it comes to dolling out religious persecution, the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) the ruthless band of religious extremists currently blazing a horrific trail of violence through Iraq has been relatively indiscriminate. But while the situation is dire for many of the countrys religious groups, one band of faithful is at the center of ISISs wrath for an unusual reason: ISIS thinks they worship the devil.
Since ISIS began capturing Iraqi cities earlier this year, they have killed or displaced thousands of Christians and even their fellow Muslims, and have sparked international condemnation for destroying religious shrines sacred to both traditions. So terrible is their their treatment of other religions that when President Barack Obama announced on Thursday that the United States would begin taking military action against ISIS, he justified authorizing air drops of humanitarian aid and airstrikes on military targets by saying that ISIS had been especially barbaric towards religious minorities.
But the impetus for United States involvement largely revolves around one specific religious group that ISIS is could wipe out namely, an ancient but relatively small sect known as the Yazidis, sometimes written Yezidis.
Unlike Christians, [Yazidis are] not even given the option of paying a tax to live under [ISIS'] protection, Hayder al-Khoei, an associate fellow at Chatham Houses Middle East and North Africa Program, told TIME.com. [ISIS] believes they are devil worshippers who must either be slaughtered or convert to Islam.
http://thinkprogress.org/world/2014/08/09/3469100/yazidis-persecution/
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In Iraq, An Entire Religion Faces Extinction For Something It Doesn’t Believe (Original Post)
rug
Aug 2014
OP
msongs
(67,199 posts)1. religion is not an asset to humanity nt
rug
(82,333 posts)2. Neither is that post
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)3. We disagree on this one.
okasha
(11,573 posts)5. One-line drivebys are not assets to DU.
Jim__
(14,045 posts)4. "the Yazidi believe that good and evil are present in all people"
I agree with them on at least that much. I hope they all survive this threat.
On top of the human tragedy, these ancient religions are a glimpse into our past.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)7. Rec. This is important issue. n/t
derby378
(30,252 posts)8. Another look at the Yazidis and their faith, this time an enclave in Germany
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1560714/The-Devil-worshippers-of-Iraq.html
Melek Taus, upon closer inspection, resembles Quetzlcoatl more than he does the Islamic concept of Shaytan.
Melek Taus, upon closer inspection, resembles Quetzlcoatl more than he does the Islamic concept of Shaytan.