On August 20, the second part of the double lecture “Yazidis in Iraq - Yazidis in Germany” with Barakat al Taalo (Quakenbrück / Osnabrück) and Sr. Makrina Finlay OSB (Burg Dinklage Abbey) took place in the Dinklage monastery café. This time, the focus was on the current situation of the Ezidis in Iraq (Shingal and Kurdistan) and for Ezidis in Germany, combined with an outlook on how returning to the Ezidi homeland in Shingal could work.

 

Barakat explained that Ezidi religion is still misunderstood or unknown. As a result, Ezidis are also treated with a great deal of contempt via digital media. While many Christian villages, towns and churches in northern Iraq have been rebuilt, the Ezidis lack the lobby and the money to rebuild their villages, towns and sanctuaries.

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Sr. Makrina presented some aspects of Regenerate Shingal’s work, noting that we have already been able to uncover some wells, build an irrigation system and construct one half of a semi-detached house. One family has returned and is gradually cultivating more land and tending to a herd of sheep and flock of chickens. A current goal is to complete the living area for the second family and to build a chicken coop - which is sure to be well received in the Oldenburger Münsterland region.

 

The 30 or so guests from the region listened intently to the presentation and the subsequent discussion was lively, which was certainly also due to the excellent speakers.