175 Yazidi killed by suicide bombers in Iraq today

At least 175 people of the Yazidi , a religious group (defined below) were killed, and another 200 were injured in Iraq "when suicide bombers detonated fuel tankers in remote villages near the Syrian border."

The Yezidi religious minority, regarded as infidels by Sunni extremists, was targeted by four suicide bombers who exploded their vehicles in the villages of Kahtaniya, al-Jazeera and Tal Uzair, about 75 miles west of the city of Mosul, a stronghold of Sunni Islamic militants.

According to officials in the nearby town of Sinjar, the bombers drove explosives-laden petrol tankers into three busy commercial neighbourhoods, flattening residential blocks and causing fires which raged out of control. "This is an outrageous and cynical terrorist act against innocent people," said Jaasim Sinjari, a local official. "The Sunni Arabs are trying to wipe us out."(Guardian)

I was not familiar with the group Yezidis.    When I started reading this is what I found.  "The other branches of Yazdânism, Alevism and Yarsanism, differ from Yazidism by recognizing the Shiite practice of taqiyya (dissimulation) [lying to one's enemies;  Concealing or disguising one's beliefs, convictions, ideas, feelings, opinions, and/or strategies at a time of imminent danger, whether now or later in time, to save oneself from physical and/or mental injury;  Dissimulation is a form of deception in which one conceals the truth.":

Worship centers around Angels (Malek is from the Arabic word for 'angel'), the most important of which is named Melek Taus, or the "Peacock Angel," also known as Lucifer. Lucifer plays a different role in Yezidism, where he is considered the chief Archangel, and the creator of the material world. In Yezidi belief, Lucifer is not a fallen angel, or the enemy of God. In Yezidi cosmology, the universal Spirit (the Supreme deity) created a pearl, which became broken after a period of forty thousand years. Melek, or Lucifer, used the remains of the pearl to create the material world. After this creation, the Spirit created the remaining Angels. Yezidi theology claims that Lucifer was forgiven for his transgressions, and those who revere him are the spiritual elect of humanity. They are forbidden from referring to him as Satan.  [snip]

Yezidis are a Kurdish sect, named after their supposed founder Yezid, the Umayyad Caliph. The Yezidi revere the Prophet Mohammed and the Sufi mystic Adi Musafir, a descendent of the Umayyad Caliphs (Kalifs). Adi is credited with writing many of the Yezidi Holy texts and is possibly the originator of the faith. Islamic writings mention the religion as early as the fourteenth century, but some scholars link them to Mithraism, Zoroastrianism, and even ancient Iraqi Buzzard worshippers. Yezidism is an enigma that has confounded scholars and incited debate for some time. The influence of Islam on the religion is heavy and obscures other aspects.  (read more)

Pretty interesting.  Here's where the Yezidis are located:

Yazidis are primarily ethnic Kurds, and most live near Mosul, Iraq with smaller communities in Armenia (some 40,000 according to 2001 census), Georgia, Iran, Russia (31,273 as per 2002 census), Syria, and Turkey (some 80,000 in 1970; 23,000 in 1985 and 377 people in 2007). They number around 500,000 individuals in total, but estimates vary on their population size, partially due to the Yazidi tradition of secrecy when asked about one's religious beliefs. Yazidi refugees also live in Europe (specifically in Germany) and the United States.[1]  (more)

Other reading, not necessarily on topic, from both sides of the isle:

CONSTRUCTIVE PROPOSAL OF YEZIDI TO GEORGE BUSH, Hyelog

IWPR in Iraq: Yezidi “Honour Killing” and Complex Tribal Relationships, Carson's Post

Teen Du’a Khalil Aswad, Iraqi Yezidi girl, stoned to death, Cao's Blog

Prisoner Lawsuit Against Michael Vick, Boots and Sabers

Show Time - the band
__________________________________________________________________
Sharing the information and Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson's Website, The Virtuous Republic, Rosemary's Thoughts, Adam's Blog, Big Dog's Weblog, Inside the Northwest Territory, Nuke's News & Views, Webloggin, Leaning Straight Up, The Amboy Times, The Florida Masochist, Conservative Cat, Adeline and Hazel, Public Domain Clip Art, Conservative Thoughts, Pursuing Holiness, third world county, Faultline USA, Wake Up America, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, 4 Time Father?, Pirate's Cove, The Pink Flamingo, Planck's Constant, The Yankee Sailor, and Gone Hollywood, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Comments

[Mushy]

Very interesting post - I did not know any of that background - thanks.

What a shame!

[Rosemary]

How are we supposed to know who to 'trust' when they keep deceiving us? Don't they understand they are only deceiving themselves in the long run? Oh brother.