PZ-Interview mit der Soziologin Miriam Geoghegan über die Lebensgewohnheiten der yezidischen Flüchtlinge aus dem Irak (Pforzheimer Zeitung interview with the sociologist Miriam Geoghegan about the lifestyle of the Yezidi refugees from Iraq) (original) (raw)

Pforzheim (pop: 120 000) is the city in Baden-Württemberg (Germany) with the most refugees from Iraq (>1600). The majority are Yezidis from the provinces of Niniveh and Dohuk. The authorities and the people of Pforzheim know very little about this persecuted religious minority. For the past year I have been conducting interviews with Yezidis, and with teachers, social workers etc who work with the Yezidi refugees; I have spent many hours observing school classes composed almost entirely of Yezidi children, and integration courses for their parents; I have conducted research into the Yezidi religion and traditions; and I have shared my findings in numerous talks for teachers, social workers, municipal employees, youth mentors etc. The leading Pforzheim daily, the Pforzheimer Zeitung, devoted a full page to the interview, which is a reflection of the interest in this topic and of the concern that the heavily indebted city's integration capacity will soon be overtaxed if Yezidis, who have little or no education, extremely large families, and who observe strict endogamy, continue to flock in large numbers to their relatives in Pforzheim.