<研究創案ノート>イラク北部多元社会における少数派ヤズィーディーの戦後復興 --ニーナワー県バアシーカ準地区のオリーブ栽培の事例から--

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to identify the composition of the plural society in the northern Iraqi province of Nīnawā area and its transformation, by focusing on the livelihoods of the Yazīdīs. The Yazīdīs are a minority that make up the pluralistic society of northern Iraq, whose history dates back to the 12th century. Throughout history, they have often been the target of attacks as they have been mistakenly perceived as devil worshippers. It focuses on the Ba'shīqa sub-district, located in the Mosul district in Nīnawā, an area where Yazīdīs have historically congregated. Secondary sources such as a regional histories published in 2011 and newspaper articles were used, as well as data from a preliminary survey of local residents, which the author has been conducting since 2022. Particular attention is paid to olive cultivation, the main industry in Baʻshīqa, and the changes surrounding the cultivation which Yazīdīs have been engaged in. Attacks on minority groups including Yazīdīs became more serious following the 2003 war in Iraq. Under these circumstances, the fall of Mosul and massacres against minorities occurred after 2014, when the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) expanded its power, resulting in numerous casualties. Ba‘shīqa is a prominent area of irrigated agriculture in northern Iraq, and its rich ecological environment has provided a wealth of bounty. This article clarifies that Yazīdīs have maintained traditions and customs based on their own belief system through olive cultivation, which has been their livelihood for more than 500 years. These traditions and customs have been shared by the inhabitants of Ba‘shīqa, , preserving the unity of the population across religious, ethnic and sectarian boundaries. In order to restore an “enviable and friendly atmosphere, ” efforts are underway to rebuild their lives and villages following the IS invasion, with 90% of the temporarily displaced population having returned to the area by now.