#bave cawis

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Bavê Çawîş, the highest Ezidi temple guard of Lalish by Marcus Wiechmann.

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Bawe Cawis watches as recently released Êzîdî men and women arrive at the temple. UNHCR/Dominic Nahr

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Êzidîs by Amed Gökçen

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Bavê Çawîş Pîr Şero the highest Êzidî temple guard recites a part of Qewlê Şêx Hesenî Siltane (Sacred Êzidî Hymn of Sultan Sheikh Hassan) 

Şêxê Hesenî siltan e, siltan e, siltan e (Sheikh Hassan is a sultan, he is a sultan, he is a sultan). Hay ezîzê mala bavê mino (oh beloved of my father’s house), babê qelpê rehmane (father of the merciful heart), Mîrê qelenderan (lord of the humble). Hay li min hayê (oh beloved). Laliş ye bor, Dîwan ye bor, Mergeh ye bor yabor ye bor, Hay birîndarê mêrano (oh wounded among men), siltan Şixadiyê li hemu derdan yi derman e, hay derman e (sultan Sheikh Adi is the cure for all sorrows, oh he is the cure).

*Dîwan und Mergeh are terms that refer to the Êzidî sanctuary Lalish. Dîwan means residence and Mergeh is a mountain surrounding Lalish.

The sacred text is very emotional, full of sorrow and melancholy and can be dated back to the great attack of the 13th century when the governeur of Mosul Badr ad-Din Lulu attacked the Êzidîs in Lalish in 1246. In this attack 200 Êzidî scholars, Sheikh Hassan and hundred other Êzidî civilians were executed. Sheikh Hassan is the great-nephew of Sheikh Adi and one of the most important Êzidî figures. During his reign the Êzidî religion flourished and the Êzidî principality Sheikhan with Lalish as its centre established itself against hostile Muslim surroundings. Furthermore Sheikh Hassan implemented the Civata Rûhanî (the religious councel) which exists as religious supreme authority in the Êzidî faith to this day. His immense influence was perceived as a threat for the great power of Mosul which lead in 1246 to a campaign of destruction in which countless Êzidîs lost their lives and the holy sanctuary Lalish was heavily damaged.