Yazidi Union Urges Armenian Catholicos to ‘Keep Clergy In Check’

Boris Murazi, president of Sinjar Yazidi National Union, has called upon the Araratian Patriarchal Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church to remove Holy Trinity Church priest Father Yessayi Artenian's following “ignorant comments" from Qahana.am: “Yazidis worship the sun. In Yazidis' shrines one can see a statue of Satan. They do not believe in Satan, but rather ask him not to harm them.”

“This is not only a scientifically ignorant statement, but also a discriminatory attitude towards a specific group of people. Therefore, I urge His Holiness Karekin II (pictured) to keep [Father Yessayi Artenian] in check in order to prevent such discrimination in the future. Yazidi religion should not be touched upon by an incompetent person. Father Yessayi casts a shadow on the good name of Armenian Apostolic Holy Church,” Murazi's statement reads.

Recall, in a press statement issued on Monday, Center for Interethnic and Intercultural Cooperation NGO Head Sashik Sultanyan also condemned the priest's words and urged him to issue a public apology to the Yazidi people for insulting their religious feelings.