PHILADELPHIA - In a heartfelt reconnection with the past, a collection of rediscovered photographs is restoring a sense of identity to the Yazidi community, which suffered immense loss during the ISIS onslaught in Iraq. Archaeologists from the University of Pennsylvania, who studied ancient civilizations in Iraq during the 1930s, captured these images that illuminate bygone traditions of the Yazidis—a group classified as one of Iraq's oldest religious minorities.
The images became a lifeline for many within the Yazidi diaspora, especially after their cultural heritage was ravaged by extremists. One doctoral student, Marc Marin Webb, stumbled upon a photograph featuring a Yazidi shrine in 2022, igniting a quest that led to an astounding collection of nearly 300 images. Webb's discovery has contributed to the preservation of Yazidi culture, allowing community members to reconnect with their ancestral roots amid the destruction.
Ansam Basher, a Yazidi now living in England, expressed overwhelming joy upon seeing wedding photographs from her grandparents' marriage in the early 1930s. The emotional impact of retrieving these images, especially after losing personal family albums in the aftermath of ISIS, is profound.
The archive highlights Yazidi life before the genocide initiated by ISIS, which the United Nations termed a genocide due to the systematic murders, sexual slavery, and displacement of thousands. The photographs showcase family life, weddings, and rituals that the extremists sought to obliterate, serving as powerful symbols of resilience and cultural continuity.
Recent exhibitions in Yazidi regions have brought these images back into the public eye, with Yazidi families recognizing themselves and their past in the displayed photographs. These moments have been described as acts of resistance against the cultural erasure enforced during the conflict.
Overall, the rediscovered photos offer a deeper understanding of Yazidi history, challenging common narratives of violence associated with the minority. They not only preserve memories but also serve to educate others about the richness of Yazidi culture, encapsulating a history that continues to endure despite the challenges faced over centuries.
The images became a lifeline for many within the Yazidi diaspora, especially after their cultural heritage was ravaged by extremists. One doctoral student, Marc Marin Webb, stumbled upon a photograph featuring a Yazidi shrine in 2022, igniting a quest that led to an astounding collection of nearly 300 images. Webb's discovery has contributed to the preservation of Yazidi culture, allowing community members to reconnect with their ancestral roots amid the destruction.
Ansam Basher, a Yazidi now living in England, expressed overwhelming joy upon seeing wedding photographs from her grandparents' marriage in the early 1930s. The emotional impact of retrieving these images, especially after losing personal family albums in the aftermath of ISIS, is profound.
The archive highlights Yazidi life before the genocide initiated by ISIS, which the United Nations termed a genocide due to the systematic murders, sexual slavery, and displacement of thousands. The photographs showcase family life, weddings, and rituals that the extremists sought to obliterate, serving as powerful symbols of resilience and cultural continuity.
Recent exhibitions in Yazidi regions have brought these images back into the public eye, with Yazidi families recognizing themselves and their past in the displayed photographs. These moments have been described as acts of resistance against the cultural erasure enforced during the conflict.
Overall, the rediscovered photos offer a deeper understanding of Yazidi history, challenging common narratives of violence associated with the minority. They not only preserve memories but also serve to educate others about the richness of Yazidi culture, encapsulating a history that continues to endure despite the challenges faced over centuries.
