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Revision as of 06:02, 17 May 2003 by Michael Voytinsky (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The Yazidi (also spelled Yezidi) are a religion combining elements of Islam, Christianity, Judaism and pagan beliefs. Its members are primarily ethnic Kurds and most Yazidis live in Iraq and Syria.
The Yazidi have an undeserved reputation for devil worship - the xenophobic pre-World War II horror writer Howard Philip Lovecraft makes a reference to "... the Yezidi clan of devil-worshippers" in his short story "The Horror at Red Hook". This repudation stems from a misunderstanding - in the Yazidi theology, Satan is no longer the adversary - he has repented and is now the chief angel.
Estimates of the number of Yazidis vary, but are typically in the order of 300,000.