Tuz Khurmatu (Dûz): A Town of the Disputed Territories
- Sherko Sabir
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
Tuz Khurmatu (Kurdish: Dûz; also written Tuz Khurmato) is a town in northern Iraq that sits on one of the most contested fault lines in the country. Home to Kurds, Turkmen, and Arabs together, it lies in the disputed territories claimed by both the Kurdistan Region and the federal government in Baghdad. Its mixed character has made it both a place of long coexistence and, at times, a flashpoint of tension — and it remains a town whose people have shown great resilience.
In the corridor of disputed land south of Kirkuk, Tuz Khurmatu tells the complicated story of the disputed territories. This profile looks at the town, its communities, and its difficult position.
Key Takeaways
• Tuz Khurmatu (Kurdish: Dûz) is a town in Salahaddin Governorate in northern Iraq.
• It lies in the disputed territories claimed by both the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad.
• Its population is mixed — Kurdish, Turkmen, and Arab.
• It sits in the corridor of disputed land south of Kirkuk.
• The town has experienced periods of ethnic and political tension.
Quick Facts
Name (Kurdish): Dûz
Full Name: Tuz Khurmatu (Tuz Khurmato)
Country: Iraq
Governorate: Salahaddin
Status: Part of the disputed territories
Communities: Kurdish, Turkmen, and Arab
Near: Kirkuk and the Garmian region
Character: A contested, mixed town
Contents
Where Is Tuz Khurmatu?
Tuz Khurmatu lies in Salahaddin Governorate in northern Iraq, on the main road between Kirkuk and Baghdad, in the belt of disputed land that runs south from Kirkuk toward the Garmian country around Kalar and Khanaqin. It sits on the plains at the foot of the Hamrin hills, a strategic point on the route between the Kurdish region and central Iraq.
A Town of Three Communities
Tuz Khurmatu is one of the most mixed towns in the region, home to Kurds, Turkmen, and Arabs who have long lived side by side. The Turkmen community in particular is large and historically rooted here, and the town is an important centre of Turkmen life in Iraq, while Kurds and Arabs form substantial parts of the population as well. For generations these communities shared the town’s markets, neighbourhoods, and daily life, making Tuz Khurmatu a place of genuine diversity in the Iraqi landscape.
In the Disputed Territories
Tuz Khurmatu lies within the disputed territories of northern Iraq — the areas claimed by both the Kurdistan Region and the federal government, whose status has never been finally settled. Control of the town and its district has shifted between Kurdish and federal Iraqi forces at different times, and its administration, security, and future have all been caught up in the wider contest over these lands. This unresolved status has placed Tuz Khurmatu at the heart of one of Iraq’s most sensitive political questions.
Tension and Resilience
The town’s mixed make-up and contested status have, at times, made it a flashpoint. Tuz Khurmatu has seen periods of ethnic and sectarian tension and bouts of violence, and many of its residents have endured displacement, damage, and loss during the most difficult episodes. Yet through these hardships its communities have repeatedly sought to rebuild and to live together again, and the resilience of its people — Kurdish, Turkmen, and Arab alike — has been a defining feature of the town’s recent history.
Tuz Khurmatu Today
Today Tuz Khurmatu remains a mixed and strategically placed town in the disputed corridor south of Kirkuk, its future still tied to the unresolved question of these territories. Its people continue the work of recovery and coexistence amid a fragile calm. For the Kurds who live there alongside their Turkmen and Arab neighbours, Tuz Khurmatu stands as a reminder of both the diversity and the difficulty of the disputed lands.
Timeline
historically — Tuz Khurmatu develops as a mixed Kurdish, Turkmen, and Arab town.
20th century — The town lies within the contested lands between Kurdish and central Iraqi control.
after 2003 — Tuz Khurmatu becomes part of the disputed territories of northern Iraq.
recent years — Periods of tension and shifting control bring hardship and displacement.
today — The town endures as a mixed community in a fragile, contested setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tuz Khurmatu’s Kurdish name?
In Kurdish the town is commonly known as Dûz.
Where is Tuz Khurmatu?
Tuz Khurmatu is in Salahaddin Governorate in northern Iraq, on the road between Kirkuk and Baghdad, within the disputed territories south of Kirkuk.
Who lives in Tuz Khurmatu?
The town has a mixed population of Kurds, Turkmen, and Arabs, with a large and historically rooted Turkmen community alongside Kurdish and Arab residents.
Why is Tuz Khurmatu contested?
It lies in the disputed territories claimed by both the Kurdistan Region and the federal government, and control of the town has shifted between Kurdish and Iraqi forces, making it a sensitive flashpoint.
Related People, Places, and Topics
References and Further Reading
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