Taza Khurmatu
{{Distinguish|Tuz Khurmatu}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Taza Khurmatu
| other_name = Taza
| native_name = Iraqi Turkmen: تازة خورماتو
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Town
| motto =
| image_skyline = Taza khormatu.jpg
| imagesize =
| image_caption = Beauty of Taza Khurmatu
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| pushpin_map = Iraq
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| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Iraq}}
| subdivision_type1 = Governorate
| subdivision_name1 = Kirkuk
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Daquq
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| unit_pref = Imperial
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| population_as_of = 2023
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| population_total = 40,000
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| utc_offset = +3
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| coordinates = {{coord|35|18|10|N|44|19|43|E|region:IQ|display=inline}}
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}}
Taza Khurmatu or Taza ({{langx|ar|تازة خورماتو|Tāzah Ḵūrmātū}},{{Cite news|date=11 March 2016|title=سكان "تازة خورماتو" بكركوك العراقية يتوافدون للمشافي جراء قصف "داعش" البلدة بالكيماوي|language=ar|work=Anadolu Agency|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/ar/الدول-العربية/سكان-تازة-خورماتو-بكركوك-العراقية-يتوافدون-للمشافي-جراء-قصف-داعش-البلدة-بالكيماوي/535181|access-date=26 October 2020}} {{langx|tr|Tazehurmatu|lit=Fresh Dates}}[https://www.trthaber.com/haber/dunya/son-3-yil-icinde-tazehurmatuda-yaklasik-100-kisi-kansere-yakalandi-407854.html "Son 3 yıl içinde Tazehurmatu'da yaklaşık 100 kişi kansere yakalandı" - Son Dakika Haberleri]{{Cite web|title=The Turkmen of Iraq|url=https://al-bab.com/minority-groups/turkmen|access-date=23 October 2020|website=Al-Bab}}) is a town in Iraq, located south of Kirkuk.{{cite news|title=US Holds Islamic State Agent Tied to Chemical Weapons|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/us-holds-islamic-state-agent-tied-to-chemical-weapons/3227596.html|publisher=Voice of America|date=9 March 2016}} It is populated predominantly by Shia Turkmen.{{cite web |title=The Turkmen of Iraq: Underestimated, Marginalized and exposed to assimilation |url=https://unpo.org/article/2610 |website=UNPO |access-date=13 October 2020}}
History
In 1925, the town's population was predominantly Turkmen.{{Cite book|title=Question of the Frontier between Turkey and Iraq - League of Nations|year=1925|pages=38}}
The town experienced Arabization during the Saddam era where Turkmen land was confiscated and given to Arab settlers.{{Cite news|last=Derzsi-Horváth|first=András|date=2017|title=Iraq after ISIL: Kirkuk|work=GPPi|url=https://www.gppi.net/2017/08/30/iraq-after-isil-kirkuk|access-date=21 October 2020}}
In 2009 it was the site of the 20 June 2009 Taza bombing, where more than 70 people were killed by a suicide bomber.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna31459332|title=Dogs to search for bomb victims in Iraq|work=NBC News}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/shiite-villagers-describe-massacre-in-northern-iraq/2014/06/23/278b0fb2-76c8-4796-83f7-840c277e93d8_story.html|title=Shiite villagers describe 'massacre' in northern Iraq|author=Abigail Hauslohner|date=23 June 2014|work=Washington Post}} In March 2016, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant fired mortars containing an unidentified chemical agent killing one and injuring 600.{{cite web|url=http://www.hickoryrecord.com/news/world/ap/iraqi-officials-is-chemical-attacks-kill-child-wound/article_1f755469-57a4-5bde-80f0-277e069f1eb0.html|title=Iraqi officials: IS chemical attacks kill child, wound 600|work=HDR - Hickory Daily Record}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nasdaq.com/article/islamic-state-struck-town-with-chemical-weapons-iraq-says-20160311-00527|title=Islamic State Struck Town With Chemical Weapons, Iraq Says|date=11 March 2016|work=NASDAQ.com}}{{cite web|url=http://news.antiwar.com/2016/03/11/iraqi-girl-3-dies-in-isis-chemical-attack/|title=Iraqi Girl, 3, Dies in ISIS Chemical Attack|work=News From Antiwar.com}}
It is currently controlled by the Turkmen Brigades of the Popular Mobilization Units.[http://fa.shafaqna.com/news/254181] ده ها کشته و زخمی در حمله هوایی ائتلاف به یک حسینیه در جنوب کرکوک[http://www.alalam.ir/news/1814466] فيديو؛ "داعش" تستهدف الحشد الشعبي بالغازات السامة[http://www.alsumaria.tv/news/162121/%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B2%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%B6-%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B9%D9%86%D9%81-%D9%87%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%B4-%D8%A8%D9%8042-%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AE/ar] تازة تتعرض لأعنف هجوم من "داعش" بـ42 صاروخ كاتيوشا