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SAYID AVDALYAN: "I'M A YEZIDI AND LOVE ARMENIA MUCH MORE THAN MANY OTHERS"
Grisha Balasanyan
hetq
15:04, July 27, 2012
Sayid Avdalyan is determined to break a few stereotypes about the
new generation of Yezidis in Armenia.
He is pursuing a Masters in International Relations at Yerevan State
University and also serves as President of the Association of Yezidi
Youth in Armenia.
The first stereotype on his hit list is that Yezidi boys and girls
are married off by their parents at an early age
"Sure, some parents still do this but it's a minority today, says
Sayid, touching on a subject that has been in the news of late. The
Armenian government has drafted a bill upping the legal age of marriage
for boys and girls to 18. Currently, girls can marry when they turn 17.
Aziz Tamoyan, President of the Global Yezidi Union in Armenia, says
that according to tradition Yezidi girls are regarded as spinsters
at 18.
Sayid says that a major reason for early marriages is demographic. "We
are small in numbers. In Armenia, there are around 40,000 Yezidis
and worldwide just 2-2.5 million. This is why some families still
push for early marriages. But most families now oppose the tradition."
He says that most young Yezidis today want to get a higher education
and a job afterwards rather than getting married right out of high
school.
"Today, many young Yezidis want to establish themselves in society
before thinking about getting married. Times have changed and we have
to keep up with them without forgetting our past," says Sayid.
The Yezidi Youth Association president says he was offended to read
certain chauvinistic comments by Armenian young people in various
internet chat sites that the Yezidis should leave the country.
"My name is Sayid Avdalyan and I'm a full citizen of Armenia with
all the rights and responsibilities of everyone else; Armenians,
Assyrians and Greeks. Thus, I consider Armenia my home. Yes, northern
Iraq is considered as the native homeland of the Yezidi nation and
it will always have a place in my heart. But I consider my homeland
to be Armenia, where I was born and raised. I am ready to do all to
serve my homeland and all its citizens."
Sayid notes that Yezidis have always struggled alongside Armenians
and gives the example of Jahangir Agha, a national hero of the Yezidis
in early 20th century.
Jahangir Agha teamed up with Andranik Pasha in the battles to defend
the Armenian communities of Van and Alashkert in 1915 against Ottoman
aggression.
In 1918, Jahangir Agha participated in Bash-Aparan battle with his
Yezidi battalion of three hundred horsemen against Turkish Army
invaded Armenia. He also joined Armenians during the anti-Bolshevik
revolt of February 18, 1921 and participated in battles for Yerevan.
"In the Karabakh War both my 33 year-old uncle and 25 year-old brother
died in the defense of their homeland. Many other Yezidis fought and
died on the battlefield. My other uncle donated 11 tons of meat for the
soldiers. No one has the right to foment divisions in the long history
of friendship between Armenians and Yezidis. Armenia is my homeland as
well. It doesn't matter what your ethnic identity may be," Sayid said.
When it was time to part ways, the young man turned and calmly stated,
"Yes, I'm a Yezidi but I love Armenia much more than many others."
Grisha Balasanyan
hetq
15:04, July 27, 2012
Sayid Avdalyan is determined to break a few stereotypes about the
new generation of Yezidis in Armenia.
He is pursuing a Masters in International Relations at Yerevan State
University and also serves as President of the Association of Yezidi
Youth in Armenia.
The first stereotype on his hit list is that Yezidi boys and girls
are married off by their parents at an early age
"Sure, some parents still do this but it's a minority today, says
Sayid, touching on a subject that has been in the news of late. The
Armenian government has drafted a bill upping the legal age of marriage
for boys and girls to 18. Currently, girls can marry when they turn 17.
Aziz Tamoyan, President of the Global Yezidi Union in Armenia, says
that according to tradition Yezidi girls are regarded as spinsters
at 18.
Sayid says that a major reason for early marriages is demographic. "We
are small in numbers. In Armenia, there are around 40,000 Yezidis
and worldwide just 2-2.5 million. This is why some families still
push for early marriages. But most families now oppose the tradition."
He says that most young Yezidis today want to get a higher education
and a job afterwards rather than getting married right out of high
school.
"Today, many young Yezidis want to establish themselves in society
before thinking about getting married. Times have changed and we have
to keep up with them without forgetting our past," says Sayid.
The Yezidi Youth Association president says he was offended to read
certain chauvinistic comments by Armenian young people in various
internet chat sites that the Yezidis should leave the country.
"My name is Sayid Avdalyan and I'm a full citizen of Armenia with
all the rights and responsibilities of everyone else; Armenians,
Assyrians and Greeks. Thus, I consider Armenia my home. Yes, northern
Iraq is considered as the native homeland of the Yezidi nation and
it will always have a place in my heart. But I consider my homeland
to be Armenia, where I was born and raised. I am ready to do all to
serve my homeland and all its citizens."
Sayid notes that Yezidis have always struggled alongside Armenians
and gives the example of Jahangir Agha, a national hero of the Yezidis
in early 20th century.
Jahangir Agha teamed up with Andranik Pasha in the battles to defend
the Armenian communities of Van and Alashkert in 1915 against Ottoman
aggression.
In 1918, Jahangir Agha participated in Bash-Aparan battle with his
Yezidi battalion of three hundred horsemen against Turkish Army
invaded Armenia. He also joined Armenians during the anti-Bolshevik
revolt of February 18, 1921 and participated in battles for Yerevan.
"In the Karabakh War both my 33 year-old uncle and 25 year-old brother
died in the defense of their homeland. Many other Yezidis fought and
died on the battlefield. My other uncle donated 11 tons of meat for the
soldiers. No one has the right to foment divisions in the long history
of friendship between Armenians and Yezidis. Armenia is my homeland as
well. It doesn't matter what your ethnic identity may be," Sayid said.
When it was time to part ways, the young man turned and calmly stated,
"Yes, I'm a Yezidi but I love Armenia much more than many others."