(Y)ezidism in diaspora: beliefs, doubts and reinventions in migration

(Y)ezidism in Europe and the Caucasus

2018-

Most of the (Y)ezidis in the world live in the Middle East, however several migrations have brought a significant percent of the (Y)ezidis in Europe. Earlier waves of migrations brought (Y)ezidis to the Caucasus. My project aims at documenting and understanding the reconfigurations of (Y)ezidi culture and identity in a globalised world. Indeed the religious practices and the marriage networks are very different in the Middle-East and the Caucasus. Some (Y)ezidis in Europe try to merge these diverging understandings into a coherent body of knowledge and practice. Most of the (Y)ezidis also face the new task of explaining to government institutions, colleagues, friends, what (Y)ezidism is about. These reconfigurations are surrounded by debates which stand at the core of this project.

From 2018 to 2023 my main fieldwork was in Drôme (France). This research was supported by the Cpa-Ethnopôle (Valence).

I currently conduct reasearch mainly in Eastern France, in Germany and in the Caucasus. This research is supported by the USIAS (Strasbourg). 

I'm also a participant observer as a member of the NGO Voice of Ezidis (Paris).