Taza Khurmatu or Taza (Arabic: تازة خورماتو, romanizedTāzah Ḵūrmātū,[1] Turkish: Tazehurmatu, lit.'Fresh Dates'[2][3]) is a town in Iraq, located south of Kirkuk.[4] It is populated predominantly by Shia Turkmen.[4][5]

Taza Khurmatu
Iraqi Turkmen: تازة خورماتو
Taza
Town
Beauty of Taza Khurmatu
Beauty of Taza Khurmatu
Taza Khurmatu is located in Iraq
Taza Khurmatu
Taza Khurmatu
Coordinates: 35°18′10″N 44°19′43″E / 35.30278°N 44.32861°E / 35.30278; 44.32861
Country Iraq
GovernorateKirkuk
DistrictDaquq
Population
 (2023)
 • Total
40,000
Time zoneUTC+3

History

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In 1925, the town's population was predominantly Turkmen.[6]

The town experienced Arabization during the Saddam era where Turkmen land was confiscated and given to Arab settlers.[7]

In 2009 it was the site of the 20 June 2009 Taza bombing, where more than 70 people were killed by a suicide bomber.[8] In June 2014, along with the nearby villages of Brawawchli, Karanaz, Chardaghli, and Bashir, it experienced a massacre of at least 40 villagers committed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.[9] In March 2016, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant fired mortars containing an unidentified chemical agent killing one and injuring 600.[10][11][12]

It is currently controlled by the Turkmen Brigades of the Popular Mobilization Units.[13][14][15]

References

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  1. ^ "سكان "تازة خورماتو" بكركوك العراقية يتوافدون للمشافي جراء قصف "داعش" البلدة بالكيماوي". Anadolu Agency (in Arabic). 11 March 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Son 3 yıl içinde Tazehurmatu'da yaklaşık 100 kişi kansere yakalandı" - Son Dakika Haberleri
  3. ^ "The Turkmen of Iraq". Al-Bab. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  4. ^ a b "US Holds Islamic State Agent Tied to Chemical Weapons". Voice of America. 9 March 2016.
  5. ^ "The Turkmen of Iraq: Underestimated, Marginalized and exposed to assimilation". UNPO. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  6. ^ Question of the Frontier between Turkey and Iraq - League of Nations. 1925. p. 38.
  7. ^ Derzsi-Horváth, András (2017). "Iraq after ISIL: Kirkuk". GPPi. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Dogs to search for bomb victims in Iraq". NBC News.
  9. ^ Abigail Hauslohner (23 June 2014). "Shiite villagers describe 'massacre' in northern Iraq". Washington Post.
  10. ^ "Iraqi officials: IS chemical attacks kill child, wound 600". HDR - Hickory Daily Record.
  11. ^ "Islamic State Struck Town With Chemical Weapons, Iraq Says". NASDAQ.com. 11 March 2016.
  12. ^ "Iraqi Girl, 3, Dies in ISIS Chemical Attack". News From Antiwar.com.
  13. ^ [1] ده ها کشته و زخمی در حمله هوایی ائتلاف به یک حسینیه در جنوب کرکوک
  14. ^ [2] فيديو؛ "داعش" تستهدف الحشد الشعبي بالغازات السامة
  15. ^ [3] تازة تتعرض لأعنف هجوم من "داعش" بـ42 صاروخ كاتيوشا