The University of Duhok, in collaboration with Lalish Cultural and Social Center, is honored to announce the international conference The Ezidis: Religion, Heritage, History, and Geography (ERHHG-2025), to be held on April 29-30, 2025, at the University of Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. This landmark event invites scholars, researchers, and practitioners to explore the rich and multifaceted identity of the Ezidi community through its religious, historical, cultural, and geographical dimensions.

Conference Overview:

The Ezidi people, known also as Yazidis, Yezidi, Yazdâni, and Izadi, have long endured religious and cultural misrepresentations. Despite their significant historical presence, spanning northwest Syria, southeast Turkey, and northern Iraq, their unique heritage remains inadequately represented in academia. This conference aims to provide a dedicated forum to engage with the Ezidis’ distinctive cultural legacy, addressing both their historical contributions and contemporary challenges.

Objectives:

The ERHHG-2025 conference seeks to:

1. Illuminate Ezidi history, examining pivotal events shaping their societal evolution.
2. Deepen understanding of Ezidi religious beliefs, sacred rituals, and theological foundations.
3. Foster dialogue on preserving Ezidi heritage, encompassing oral traditions, literature, and art.
4. Analyze contemporary challenges, such as displacement and persecution, with strategies for resilience.
5. Encourage intercultural exchange and collaboration.
6. Lay academic foundations for long-term Ezidi studies.

Themes:

Submissions are encouraged on, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Ezidi Religion: Foundational beliefs, sacred texts, rituals, and current challenges in religious studies.
• Historical and Political Contexts: Ezidis' historical narrative, migration, and their political role in Iraq and the Kurdish region.
• Geography and Economy: Ezidi population distribution, significance of Sinjar, and economic practices.
• Literature, Heritage, and Folklore: Preservation of Ezidi folklore, oral traditions, and religious literature.

Submission Guidelines:

• Abstract Submission Deadline: December 1, 2024
• Notification of Acceptance: December 5, 2024
• Full Paper Submission Deadline: March 5, 2025
• Final Acceptance Notification: April 5, 2025

Please submit abstracts and papers through our official conference portal: erhhg.uod.ac or via email at [email protected].

Important Information

The ERHHG-2025 conference will be held at the Main Conference Hall of the University of Duhok. Attendees will benefit from keynote speeches, panel discussions, and breakout sessions, fostering a collaborative environment for Ezidi research and dialogue. Selected papers will be considered for publication in a special conference proceedings edition.

Contact Information:

For further details, please contact:

Prof. Dr. Nashwan Shukri Abdullah
chairman of scientific committee
University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Phone: +964 (0)750 459 3616

We look forward to your participation in what promises to be a meaningful exploration of Ezidi heritage and scholarship.

UOD Media; October 31, 2024