The Yazidis (also Yezidis, Êzidî; ) are an ethno-religious group indigenous to the northern Mesopotamia whose strictly endogamous. And ancient religion Yazidism (or Sharfadin) is not linked to Zoroastrianism but linked to ancient Mesopotamian religions; however Yazidis form a distinct and independent religious community and have their own culture. They live primarily in the Nineveh Province of Iraq. Additional communities in Armenia, Georgia, Turkey, Iran, and Syria have been in decline since the 1990s as a result of significant migration to Europe, especially to Germany. In Armenia, the Yazidis are recognized as a distinct ethnic group and generally do not consider themselves to be Kurdish. The United Nations also recognized the Yazidis as a distinct ethnic group. And according to Human Rights Watch in 2009, the Yazidis are forced to accept a Kurdish identity.