Iraqi Sunni politicians organize a new political front
Dozens of Iraqi Sunni lawmakers have met to discuss forming a new alliance after eight youths were killed with alleged involvement by Shiite-led factions in Salahuddin province.
A recent massacre of Sunni youths in central Iraq and concerns that sectarian violence may pull the country back into dark times seem to have fostered plans for a new sect-based political bloc and rekindled talk of an autonomous Sunni region.
The names of those involved in the nascent bloc have raised a number of eyebrows due to their alleged ties. Some see the move as potentially divisive for the community.
On Oct. 23, several sources confirmed to Al-Monitor that dozens of Sunni lawmakers were meeting for the purpose of furthering common aims and setting up some sort of political alliance to do so. The gatherings continued over the two following evenings, with at least one of the politicians flying in from abroad to attend.
Some claim that the envisioned political alliance is an attempt to exploit anger within the Sunni community in the name of personal grievances, especially against Sunni parliamentary speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi, and most likely aims to unseat the speaker.
