Recent calls for establishing an autonomous Sunni region in Iraq have reignited longstanding grievances among the major political actors. Sheikh Thaer al-Bayati, a prominent Sunni Arab politician and secretary-general of the Council of Arab Tribes, and is leading this initiative, spoke to The New Arab. Al-Bayati explained the push for autonomy in the Sunni regions arises from the failure of Iraq’s political process and ruling class to safeguard constitutional rights following the 2003 illegal US and UK-led invasion. Al-Bayati emphasised that Iraq’s constitution allows for the creation of feder…