Sheikh Ali Ilyas (born 1979, ) is the Baba Sheikh of the

Yazidis Yazidis or Yezidis (; ku, ئێزیدی, translit=Êzidî) are a Kurmanji-speaking Endogamy, endogamous minority group who are indigenous to Kurdistan, a geographical region in Western Asia that includes parts of Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran ...

since November 2020.

Biography

Ilyas was born in

Sheikhan Sheikhan (Punjabi Shahmukhi: ) (Punjabi Gurmukhi: ) (Hindi: ) City is situated in District Chiniot in Punjab province of Pakistan. Geography Southern side The village Sheikhan is situated some distance from the right bank of the river Chen ...

Dohuk Province ar, محافظة دهوك , image_skyline = Collage_of_Dohuk_Governorate.jpg , imagesize = , image_caption = , image_flag = , image_seal = ...

Iraq Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...

in 1979. His father was the Yezidi spiritual leader from 1978 to 1995. Ilyas was sworn in at

Lalish Lalish ( ku, لالش, translit=Laliş, also known as Lalişa Nûranî) is a mountain valley and temple in Shekhan, Duhok Governorate in Iraq. It is the holiest temple of the Yazidis. It is the location of the tomb of the Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir, ...

Temple on 18 November 2020, and was given the title Baba Sheikh by Yazidi community leader Mir Hazim Tahsin Beg, more than a month after the death of previous Yezidi spiritual leader

Khurto Hajji Ismail Khurto Hajji Ismail (1933 – 1 October 2020, ku, Xurto Hecî Îsmaîl) was the Baba Sheikh of the Yazidis until his death in 2020. He held this position since 2007. He lived in Ain Sifni, Iraq. He played an important role in reintegrating Yezi ...

. According to Yezidi religious rules, only the Mir is able to name a new spiritual leader. Ilyas "prayed for the strengthening of peaceful coexistence in Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and across the globe." Ilyas was congratulated by Kurdish leader

Masoud Barzani Masoud Barzani ( ku, ,مه‌سعوود بارزانی, translit=Mesûd Barzanî}; born 16 August 1946) is a Kurdish politician who has been leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) since 1979, and was President of the Kurdistan Region o ...

. However, some Yezidis disagreed with Ilyas' appointment, in particular in the Shingal area, who have refused to recognise him. Shingal Peshmerga commander Qassim Shasho resigned from the

Kurdistan Democratic Party The Kurdistan Democratic Party ( ku, Partiya Demokrat a Kurdistanê; پارتی دیموکراتی کوردستان), usually abbreviated as KDP or PDK, is the largest party in Iraqi Kurdistan and the senior partner in the Kurdistan Regional Gov ...

and the

Peshmerga The Peshmerga ( ku, پێشمەرگه, Pêşmerge, lit=those who face death) is the Kurdish military forces of the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq. According to the Constitution of Iraq, the Peshmerga, along with their security subsidiaries, ...

over the decision.

References

Iraqi Yazidis Iraqi religious leaders 1979 births Living people People from Dohuk Province {{Iraq-reli-bio-stub