Abstract:

Ezidism is a different religion which was institutionalized after Sheikh Adi b. Musafir, who is accepted as the founder of it in XII century, and shows syncretic features since it has been affected by different belief systems; and is an ethno religion whose members have been formed by Kurds. Today, there are few Ezidis numerically in some villages of Beşiri, a provincial town, and in Batman. Ezidi population which was approximately 140 by the end of 2012 is decreasing in Beşiri town centre, in its villages and in Batman day by day. The population cannot be determined exactly; however, it is known that there are 3-5 Ezidi families living in Batman centre. Ezidis, whom we visited in villages of Beşiri and in Beşiri centre within the context of this study in 2012, migrated especially into European countries and Northern Iraq because of political, economic and religious reasons they experienced in 1980s. This migration has accelerated since the early of 1990, and still continues. Because of the migration into European countries such as Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Denmark, the Ezidi population in Batman and its nearby vicinity is at the risk of being extinct. This study aims to find out the final state, the most recent residential places and Ezidi population in Batman and its vicinity whose number, we think, will descend to zero in terms of population unless there happens a reverse migration from abroad in the future. During the research, some Ezidi villages could not be visited because of security reasons, yet the information was obtained from some Ezidis who accepted our requests to interview in return for their names not being declared.

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