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Faith and Blood: Sacred Violence and Systematic Marginalization: An Analysis of the Persecution of Yazidis through Religious, Structural, and Psychological Lenses

Khalaf, Sarbast Shevan LU (2025) SIMZ11 20251
Graduate School
Abstract
This master's thesis analyzes the persecution of the Yazidis through religious, structural, and psychological lenses, with the 2014 genocide by the Islamic State (ISIL) as a central focus. The study highlights how religious narratives, institutional injustices and dehumanization interact to legitimize violence against this minority. Through a historical and contemporary review of sources, it shows how Yazidis have been repeatedly demonized as "devil worshippers" - a stigmatization with roots in early Islamic tradition. The results show that the Yazidis' vulnerability constitutes a cyclical spiral of violence, reinforced by global passivity and legal neglect. The thesis contributes with in-depth insights into the mechanisms behind minority... (More)
This master's thesis analyzes the persecution of the Yazidis through religious, structural, and psychological lenses, with the 2014 genocide by the Islamic State (ISIL) as a central focus. The study highlights how religious narratives, institutional injustices and dehumanization interact to legitimize violence against this minority. Through a historical and contemporary review of sources, it shows how Yazidis have been repeatedly demonized as "devil worshippers" - a stigmatization with roots in early Islamic tradition. The results show that the Yazidis' vulnerability constitutes a cyclical spiral of violence, reinforced by global passivity and legal neglect. The thesis contributes with in-depth insights into the mechanisms behind minority persecution and proposes political and legal reforms to address the ideological causes and strengthen Yazidis' rights. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Khalaf, Sarbast Shevan LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMZ11 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Keywords: Yazidis, genocide, religious narratives, structural violence, dehumanization, ISIL, sacralization of violence, ideological violence, minority persecution, moral disengagement, cultural violence, political exclusion
language
English
id
9204212
date added to LUP
2025-06-25 14:43:58
date last changed
2025-06-25 14:43:58
@misc{9204212,
  abstract     = {{This master's thesis analyzes the persecution of the Yazidis through religious, structural, and psychological lenses, with the 2014 genocide by the Islamic State (ISIL) as a central focus. The study highlights how religious narratives, institutional injustices and dehumanization interact to legitimize violence against this minority. Through a historical and contemporary review of sources, it shows how Yazidis have been repeatedly demonized as "devil worshippers" - a stigmatization with roots in early Islamic tradition. The results show that the Yazidis' vulnerability constitutes a cyclical spiral of violence, reinforced by global passivity and legal neglect. The thesis contributes with in-depth insights into the mechanisms behind minority persecution and proposes political and legal reforms to address the ideological causes and strengthen Yazidis' rights.}},
  author       = {{Khalaf, Sarbast Shevan}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Faith and Blood: Sacred Violence and Systematic Marginalization: An Analysis of the Persecution of Yazidis through Religious, Structural, and Psychological Lenses}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}