19.09.2008 - Source: US Department of State

There are small communities of religious groups, who constitute less than 5 percent of the population ("International Religious Freedom Report 2008") [ID 24786]

"There are small communities of other religious groups. There was no reliable census data on religious minorities, and estimates from congregants varied significantly. These groups constitute less than 5 percent of the population and include Roman Catholics, Armenian Uniate (Mekhitarist) Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Armenian Evangelical Christians, Molokans, Pentecostals, Seventh-day Adventists, Baptists, various groups of charismatic Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Yezidis (non-Muslim Kurds who practice Yezidism), Jews, Sunni Muslim Kurds, Shi'ite Muslims, Baha'is, and others. Yezidis are concentrated primarily in agricultural areas around Mount Aragats, northwest of Yerevan. Armenian Catholics live mainly in the north, while most Jews, Mormons, Baha'is, and Orthodox Christians reside in Yerevan, along with a small community of mostly Shi'ite Muslims, including Iranians, and temporary residents from the Middle East."

Document(s): Open document

21.08.2008 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Demonstration in front of the president's office in Yerevan in November 2006 after the murder of a Yezidi man committed by the mayor of Ldjarshen village, Sevan province; interview given by the applicant to a local TV station (possibly Shant TV), broadcasted on the same day ("a-6252-2 (ACC-ARM-6253)") [ID 25027]

Document(s): Open document

02.07.2008 - Source: Freedom House

Yezidi community has claimed that police and local authorities sometimes subject them to discrimination ("Freedom in the World 2008") [ID 24552]

"Although members of the country’s tiny ethnic minority population rarely report cases of overt discrimination, they have complained about difficulties in receiving education in their native languages. The Yezidi community has claimed that police and local authorities sometimes subject them to discrimination."

Document(s): Open document

05.2008 - Source: WRITENET

Report on the human rights situation of the Yezidis, a heterodox Kurdish community in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan (background on the Yezidis, data on the current geographical distribution of the Yezidis, national minority rights, current migration trends) ("The Human Rights Situation of the Yezidi Minority in the Transcaucausus") [ID 23844]

Document(s): Open document

26.10.2007 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Zovuni: Ethnic minority of Yezidis blames official discrimination for failure to remove potentially lethal electricity pylons from their village ("Yezidis Endure Years of Living Dangerously") [ID 21524]

Document(s): Open document

06.2007 - Source: Freedom House

Yezidi community complains about discrimination by police and local authorities ("Freedom in the World 2007") [ID 20480]

"Although members of the country’s tiny ethnic minority population rarely report cases of overt discrimination, they have complained about difficulties in receiving education in their native languages. The Yezidi community has claimed that police and local authorities sometimes subject them to discrimination."

Document(s): Open document

22.03.2007 - Source: Armenialiberty

Armenia’s Yezidis Split Over Elections ("Armenia’s Yezidis Split Over Elections") [ID 19586]

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

High percentage of children in the Yezidi community did not attend school ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 20342]

"A high percentage of children in the Yezidi community did not attend school, partly for economic reasons and partly because schools lacked Yezidi teachers and books in their native language. In September the government published and distributed Kurdish‑language primary school textbooks for Yezidi schoolchildren. The government also published Assyrian‑language primary school textbooks during the year."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Yezidi leaders did not complain that police and local authorities subjected their community to discrimination ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 20374]

"The Yezidi community, which numbers between 30,000 and 40,000 persons according to its leaders, speaks a dialect of Kurdish and practices a religion derived from Zoroastrianism, Islam, and animism. Unlike in previous years, Yezidi leaders did not complain that police and local authorities subjected their community to discrimination. However, on December 7, a woman and three teenagers set themselves on fire in front of the presidential palace to protest the lack of local government response to the November murder of one of their relatives. Other Yezidi villagers involved in the protest said they believed the lack of response resulted from local government corruption rather than from discrimination."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Practice of hazing soldiers assumedly continuing; homosexuals, Jehova's witnesses and Yezidis frequently selected ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46111],  [ID 15687]

"Although there was no current, reliable reporting on the full extent of military hazing, soldiers reported to human rights NGOs that the practice continued. During the year one local NGO estimated there were seven hazing incidents; other local and international NGOs insisted the number was significantly higher. Homosexuals, Yezidis (a non-Muslim, Kurdish, religious-ethnic group), and Jehovah's Witnesses also reported that they were singled out for hazing by officers and other conscripts [...]. Authorities did not take any significant measures to limit or stop the hazing."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Politician of Union of Armenian Aryans convicted for inciting public hostility by remarks against Jews and Yezidis ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46111],  [ID 17093]

"The director of ALM TV frequently made anti-Semitic remarks on the air, and the Union of Armenian Aryans, a small, ultranationalist group, called for the country to be "purified" of Jews and Yezidis (see section 5). Union of Armenian Aryans leader Armen Avetisyan told a newspaper in January that Jewish communities endangered the future of the nation.On March 18, a Yerevan court found him guilty of inciting public hostility and issued a three-year suspended sentence."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

High percentage of Yezidi children did not attend school ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46111],  [ID 17231]

"In the Yezidi community, a high percentage of children did not attend school, partly for economic reasons and partly because schools lacked Yezidi teachers and books in their native language. In September the government published and distributed Kurdish- and Assyrian-language primary school textbooks."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Yezidi leaders continue to complain about discrimination ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46111],  [ID 17273]

"The Yezidi community, whose number was estimated at between 30 and 40 thousand by its leaders, speak a Kurdish dialect and practice a religion derived from Zoroastrianism, Islam, and animism. Yezidi leaders continued to complain that police and local authorities subjected their community to discrimination, including: incidents of unfair adjudication of land, water, and grazing disputes; hazing of Yezidi conscripts in the army; and poor police response to serious crimes committed against Yezidis (see sections 1.c. and 2.c.). According to Yezidi community leaders, appeals on their behalf were raised at all levels of the government with no response and none expected."

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2005 - Source: US Department of State

Yezidi complain about discrimination by police and local authorities ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004") [#29491],  [ID 3079]

"Yezidi leaders continued to complain that police and local authorities subjected their community to discrimination. The Yezidis, whose number had been estimated at 30,000 to 40,000 by their leaders, speak a Kurdish dialect and practice a religion derived from Zoroastrianism, Islam, and animism. Yezidi leaders cited numerous incidents of unfair adjudication of land, water, and grazing disputes; hazing of Yezidi conscripts in the army; and poor police response to serious crimes committed against Yezidis [...]. On occasion, Yezidi children reported hazing by teachers and classmates. Members of the Yezidi community had tried previously to address their grievances with the Presidential Advisor on National Minorities, but they claimed that all their attempts have been ignored. According to Yezidi community leaders, appeals on their behalf with respect to alleged discrimination were raised at all levels of the Government; however, no government responses were forthcoming."

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2005 - Source: US Department of State

High percentage of Yezidi-children does not attend school ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004") [#29491],  [ID 3080]

"In the Yezidi community, a high percentage of children did not attend school, partly for family economic reasons and partly because schools lacked Yezidi teachers and books in their native language."

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2005 - Source: US Department of State

Discrimination against Yezidis by police and local authorities; ultra-nationalist group wants country to be "purified" of Yezidis ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004") [#29491],  [ID 3100]

"Yezidi leaders reported that police and local authorities subjected their religious community to discrimination and that a small ultra-nationalist group, the Union of Armenian Aryans, had called for the country to be "purified" of Yezidis [...]."

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2004 - Source: US Department of State

Yezidis continue to complain discrimination by police and authorities and societal discrimination ("International Religious Freedom Report 2004") [#26258],  [ID 3101]

"Yezidi leaders continued to complain that police and local authorities subjected their community to discrimination. The Yezidis, whose number had been estimated at 30,000 to 40,000 by their leaders, speak a Kurdish dialect and practice a religion derived from Zoroastrianism, Islam, and animism. Yezidi leaders cited numerous incidents of unfair adjudication of land, water, and grazing disputes; hazing of Yezidi conscripts in the army; and poor police response to serious crimes committed against Yezidis (see Sections 1.c. and 2.c.). On occasion, Yezidi children reported hazing by teachers and classmates. Members of the Yezidi community had tried previously to address their grievances with the Presidential Advisor on National Minorities, but they claimed that all their attempts have been ignored. According to Yezidi community leaders, appeals on their behalf with respect to alleged discrimination were raised at all levels of the Government; however, no government responses were forthcoming."

Document(s): Open document

16.09.2003 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Allegations of instances of harassment and discrimination of Yezidis by local authorities, but UNHCR does not have information to confirm this ("Background information; situation of ethnic minorities; groups possibly at risk: religious minorities, members of opposition, homosexuals, deserters") [#47207],  [ID 3081]

"119. With the exception of ethnic Azeris (cf. above), no persecution on ethnic grounds has been reported for other minorities living in Armenia. There are very few non- Armenian language schools, but this due more to the shortage of the national budget allocated to education than to government policy. There have been allegations of instances of harassment and discrimination of Yezidis by local authorities, but UNHCR does not have information to confirm this."

Document(s): Open document

31.03.2003 - Source: US Department of State

Hazing of Yezidi children in schools and Yezidi conscripts; police reportedly routinely failed to respond to crimes committed against Yezidis ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2002") [#11840],  [ID 3082]

"Yezidi leaders continued to complain that police and local authorities subjected their community to discrimination. The Yezidis, whose number had been estimated at 20,000 by Yezidi leaders (down from 60,000 Yezidis registered in the 1988 population census, due to emigration) speak a Kurdish dialect and practice a traditional, non-Christian, non-Muslim religion with elements derived from Zoroastrianism, Islam, and animism. Yezidi leaders cited numerous incidents of unfair adjudication of land, water, and grazing disputes, nonreceipt of privatized agricultural land, an unusually high number of beatings of Yezidi conscripts in the army, and lack of police response to serious crimes committed against Yezidis by other citizens (see Section 1.c.). The Yezidi complaints likely reflected societal discrimination as well as the more general problem of poorly functioning local and central Government bodies, particularly regarding national minorities. Members of the Yezidi Community also tried to address their grievances with the State Commission on National Minorities, but subsequently claimed that all their attempts have been ignored.
[...]
"Nontraditional" religious groups were viewed with suspicion. On occasion Yezidi children reported hazing by teachers and classmates.
[...]
Yezidis complained that police routinely failed to respond to crimes committed against them (see Section 5).
[...]
The hazing and beating of conscripts was severe, particularly for Yezidi conscripts (see Section 5)."

Document(s): Open document

28.11.2002 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Yezidis are the largest ethnic minority group in Armenia ("8th European Country of Origin Information Seminar Vienna, 28 - 29 June 2002: Final Report - Armenia - co-funded by the EU Odysseus Programme") [#9877],  [ID 3083]

"After most Azeris have left the country, Yezidis are now the largest ethnic minority
group in Armenia. Yezidis try to keep themselves apart from Kurds although they speak
the same language. Their main distinction is their religion, which contains elements from
Zoroastrianism, Manicheism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, while Kurds are typically
Muslims. In fact, they constitute a religious minority as well as an ethnic minority.
Officially, Yezidis are recognised as one of the 11 national minorities in Armenia. It is also
important to note, that a small group consider themselves not Yezidis but Yezidi Kurds,
i.e. religious Yezidis but ethnic Kurds.
Yezidis are primarily pastoral people, concentrated in the villages north of Aparan and
living off sheep farming. Their main problem is that after the collapse of the Soviet Union
land ownership was transferred from state to private. During Soviet times, they were
able to use the mountains freely and were allowed to let their sheep graze there. In
February 2002, however, the government, to whom the mountains in fact still belong,
rented out parcels of land to the highest private bidders. Yezidis, who are mostly living
in economically difficult conditions, did not manage to acquire the usage rights for many
parcels, while a large part of the land went to wealthy individuals and interest groups
from Yerevan. Yet, as sheepherders and a pastoral people, denial of the right of way or
access to the land needed for tending their sheep leaves their livelihood and also the
survival of their cultural traditions at stake.
Therefore, while Yezidis have not been the target of overt, systematic and policy-based
discrimination, their economic situation is quite bad and the way in which the land was
divided or privatised did certainly not favor them. Yet, it is sometimes difficult to get a
clear picture as Yezidi representatives express different criticism and demand different
solutions. Observers, no matter if from very radical or pro-government NGOs,
invariably agree that there is internal disagreement within the leadership of the Yezidi
communities, mainly stemming from the fact that the urban city-based intellectuals
(Yezidi Kurds) and the pastoral people living in the villages have diverging grievances
and interests."

Document(s): Arm-cois2002-rep.pdf

10.2002 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Majority of the Yezidi population in Armenia lives in rural areas ("Analysen und Hintergründe ") [#10328],  [ID 3084]

"Jesiden definieren sich je nach politischem Standpunkt als eigenständige ethnisch-religiöse
Gruppe oder als nicht-muslimische Kurden mit einer eigenständigen Religion, die Bestandteile
der altiranischen Elementenkulte mit solchen des Gnostizismus, Christentums und Islam
vereint. Unter Angehörigen der - insgesamt sehr kleinen - städtischen Minderheit der
Jesiden ist der religionsübergreifende "Pan-Kurdismus" verbreiteter als unter der ländlichen
Mehrheit der Jesiden. Mitte der 1990er Jahre lag die Zahl dieser städtisch-jesidischen Bevölkerung
bei 5.000 bis 10.000 Personen. Als Angehörige einer weder zum Christentum,
noch zum Islam gehörenden Religionsgemeinschaft stehen Jesiden grundsätzlich in keinem
Antagonismus zum armenischen Christentum. Viele Klöster und Kirchen werden gemeinsam
von Armenien sowie Jesiden als Wallfahrtsorte aufgesucht."

Document(s): Open document

10.2002 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Cultural, economic and social situation of the Yezidi minority in Armenia ("Analysen und Hintergründe ") [#10328],  [ID 3085]

"Etliche Probleme von Jesiden ergeben sich aus kulturellen, wirtschaftlichen und sozialen
Besonderheiten: Von allen Minderheiten Armeniens und auch im Vergleich mit der armenischen
Mehrheitsbevölkerung weisen Jesiden mit 23,1 Prozent (Stand: 1996) den geringsten
Anteil an städtischer Bevölkerung auf, ebenso den geringsten Bildungsgrad, vor allem bei
Frauen. Während bei allen anderen Ethnien Armeniens einschliesslich der Titularnation Anfang
der 1990er Jahre geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede bei der Hochschul- und Fachschulausbildung
fast überwunden waren, übertraf, bedingt durch ein konservativeres Wertesystem
die Zahl männlicher Hochschulabsolventen bei der städtischen jesidischen Bevölkerung
die weiblichen um das Dreifache (78 zu 26 auf 1000), bei der ländlichen Bevölkerung
lag das Geschlechterverhältnis sogar bei 67 zu 16.
Die Klagen jesidischer Wortführer im Land wie auch der Vortrag jesidischer Flüchtlinge umfasst
zahlreiche Lebensbereiche: Sie wurden bei der Privatisierung des Bodens übergangen oder benachteiligt. Zu Sowjetzeiten von Kolchosvorsitzenden akzeptierte tradierte Durchtriebsrechte
für jesidische Viehzüchter werden unter den neuen Eigentumsverhältnissen
nicht mehr berücksichtigt. Jesiden beklagen, dass ihre Kinder in der Schule bisweilen von
Lehrern und Mitschülern gehänselt oder diskriminiert würden und dass jesidische Wehrdienstleistende
häufiger als Armenier Opfer von Willkür und Misshandlungen würden. Ferner
beklagen sie, dass örtliche Behörden und Körperschaften der Zentralregierung einschliesslich
der Staatskommission für Nationale Minderheiten sowie die Gerichte nicht ihrer
Pflicht zur Aufklärung oder Verurteilung der an Jesiden begangenen Straftaten nachkommen.
Dadurch liege die Auswanderungsrate bei Jesiden höher als bei der Titularnation.
Ein besonderes Problem besteht in der Sprach- und Kulturpflege. Auch nach Auffassung der
Vereinten Nationen gilt "Armenien (als) eines der wenigen Länder der Welt, in dem Kurden
und Jesiden in ihrer eigenen Sprache Zeitungen veröffentlichen und Radioprogramme ausstrahlen
können"27. [...] Wie auch die armenische Mehrheitsgesellschaft litten Jesiden und (jesidische wie muslimische)
Kurden in der ersten Hälfte der 1990er Jahre unter Gewaltverbrechen; mindestens
fünf Morde an kurdischen Intellektuellen sollen damals allein in Jerewan begangen worden
sein, die unaufgeklärt blieben. [...] Als Fazit lässt sich feststellen, dass die aktuellen Probleme der kurdischsprachigen Gemeinschaft
(Jesiden, jesidische Kurden, muslimische Kurden) in mangelnder kultur- und
minderheitenpolitischer Unterstützung und Ermutigung bestehen, ferner in behördlichen
Versäumnissen, die möglicherweise eher dem insgesamt schlecht funktionierenden Staatsapparat
zuzuschreiben sind als einer spezifisch gegen Jesiden bzw. Minderheiten gerichteten
Politik. Für die Betroffenen macht eine solche Unterscheidung freilich keinen praktischen
Unterschied."

Document(s): Open document

10.2002 - Source: Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

Overview on culture, traditions, and lifestyle of Yezidis in Armenia ("The Ethnic Minorities of Armenia") [#9856],  [ID 3087]

"The Yezidi movement erupting in Armenia in 1988 appealed to the 3rd All-Armenian Yezidi
Assembly convened on 30 September 1989 (the two previous Assemblies occurred at the dawn of
the Armenian Soviet Republic’s history, in 1921 and 1923) to challenge the Government for the
official recognition of their identity. As a result, the Yezidis were presented as a separate minority in
the USSR population census of 1989. According to this very census, the total count of Yezidis in
Armenia was 52700. Thus, of ca. 60 000 persons formerly classified among the Kurds of Armenia,
88% identified themselves as Yezidi. Acknowledging the Yezidi identity enabled the Yezidi community to revive: a programme was
established at the Armenia’s National Radio, publication was started of “DANGE EZDIA” (The
Voice of the Yezidis), new non-governmental organizations emerged with the Yezidi minority as the
stakeholder, the Yezidi Clerical Council was registered at the Comittee of religious affairs under the
Council of Ministers of Republic of Armenia, etc.
Schools located in Yezidi ethnic enclaves instruct the Yezidi students in their native language.
Virtually all Yezidis, along with their vernacular, are fluent in Armenian, a high proportion know
Russian. Used by the Armenia’s Yezidis for writing is the Cyrillic, however, depending on residence
the Yezidis have used diverse graphics: Arabic (In Syria and Iraq), Latin (in Europe and Turkey),
Armenian (in Armenia), etc.
The Yezidis live en masse and scattered mostly in rural areas of Aragats, Armavir, Ashtarak,
Talin, Artashat, Abovian, Echmiadzin, Masis, et al. regions as well as in the cities of Yerevan,
Echmiadzin, Armavir, Ashtarak, Artashat, Gyumri, etc.
The Yezidis have mostly retained the traditional lifestyle. Nomadic stockbreeding is the major
occupation, but some do gardening. The queries done by the Caucasian Center for Iranian Studies
within the programme “The Yezidis of Armenia: the Current Status of the Community” have shown
that most Yezidis, including those in rural areas have a vocational training (motor mechanics, fitters,
etc.), however they prefer traditional occupations, combined with other activities.
The Yezidi intellectuals, journalists, lawyers, physicians are mainly city dwellers. The Yezidis as
a whole are not too actively involved into the administrative structures, however lately, due to the
emergence of NGOs, some members of the minority get involved into the public and political life of
the country and its governmental structure.
The Armenia’s Yezidis many times showed gallantry and patriotism, particularly during the
Karabakh conflict when many of their volunteers spilled their blood in the defense of this country.
With regard to the high level of economic exodus from Armenia, the Yezidi population has
certainly been reduced to perhaps 45 000."

Document(s): Open document

10.2002 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Now the Yezidis are also obliged to officially register ("Analysen und Hintergründe ") [#10328],  [ID 3102]

"Die Glaubensfreiheit der Jesiden und anderer religiöser bzw. konfessioneller Minderheiten regelt das "Gesetz über die Freiheit des Gewissens und religiöse Organisationen" (1991).
Ethnische Minderheiten mit eigener "nationaler Doktrin" wie die Jesiden waren dabei von Auflagen befreit, die sonst in Artikel 2, Abschnitt 5 für die amtliche Anerkennung und Zulassung als Religionsorganisation erhoben wurden. Offensichtlich sind hier inzwischen bürokratische Erschwernisse eingetreten bzw. jesidische Gemeinschaften ebenfalls zur behördlichen Registrierung verpflichtet. Nach Auskunft des Staatsrats für Religionsangelegenheiten sollen es einige jesidische Gemeinschaften im Jahr 2001 versäumt haben, sich registrieren zu lassen. Die Vertreter der Jesiden in Armenien klagen, sie hätten sich bei dem Staatsrat beschwert, ohne eine Antwort auf ihre Beschwerde erhalten zu haben."

Document(s): Open document

09.2002 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Ethnic Yezidis ("Reisebericht Armenien 15.-21. Juli 2002") [#8888],  [ID 3088]

For statements of interviewpartners with regard to ethnic Yezidis please refer to p. 9-10 (in German)

Document(s): acc-arm0902.pdf