HUSAMETTIN BAHÇE / Êzîdxan

In cooperation with Diyarbakir Sümerpark Amed Sanat Gallery, curated by Barış Seyitvan

January 26 – March 4, 2017

Until two years ago few people except for a select group of specialists had ever heard of the Êzîdîs outside of Kurdistan. The ISIS refers to Êzîdîs as ‘infidels’ (kāfir) and ‘the worshippers of evil spirit’, whose only options are to convert to Islam or be killed. Under ISIS, Êzîdîs suffered mass killings, forced conversion to Islam, sexual slavery, and the abuse of their children as ISIS soldiers.

Being Kurds and non-Muslims, Êzîdîs have suffered greatly from both ethnic and religious persecution throughout history. Êzîdîsm, traditionally based primarily on orthopraxy, is undergoing profound changes as it finds itself in new circumstances resulting from migration, modernisation, globalisation, the role of the media and other external and internal influences. The IS attacks on Êzîdîs have not merely precipitated mass killings, slavery and forced conversion to Islam, as well as mass migrations and dislocations, but have consequently caused grave disruptions in Êzîdî community life.

The photographer Husamettin Bahçe was documenting the life at the refugees camps and Şengal during the attacks in the last years.

Installation views

Photos: Jakob Lindner