Based on an analysis of (401) Facebook posts trending in Iraq on December 16, 2024, Miqrab AI identified several key themes and narratives. The most prominent topics included the exposure of corruption and fraud, with actions taken by officials like MP Mustafa Sanad gaining significant attention. Disturbing crime stories also captured the public’s interest, alongside widespread discussion of a severe cold wave affecting the country. Concurrently, official government news highlighted development projects under Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani, such as the rehabilitation of Baghdad’s airport and historic districts. Political discourse also featured prominently, with proposals for Iraq’s role in the Syrian crisis, while posts showing support for security forces and positive human-interest stories also garnered high engagement.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Pension Fraud of “Dolma Chef” Fighter Exposed

A major story circulating on Facebook involved the exposure of pension fraud by Nuzhan Mahdi Salih al-Lahibi, a former Kirkuk Health Directorate employee. According to Al-Khwa Al-Nazifa (Post Impact: 14%) and Yalla Yalla (Post Impact: 4%), al-Lahibi’s family had claimed he was deceased, allowing them to collect his retirement pension, until he recently appeared in Syria with armed groups in a video where he was seen cooking dolma. MP Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 8%) stated that he reported the case, leading the Pension Authority to respond and suspend the salary payments for “Abu Al-Dolma,” noting that similar fraudulent cases costing over a trillion dinars had also been stopped.

2. Disturbing Crime Stories Circulate on Facebook

Two high-profile crime stories captured significant attention. The first, shared by Aziz Nasser – Aziz Nasser (Post Impact: 29%), details a shocking case where a teenager born in 2009 and his friend planned to kill his father, reportedly an arms dealer, because he was forbidden from going to a coffee shop. In a separate incident reported by the Directorate of Anti-Crime in Baghdad (Post Impact: 14%), a brawl between individuals under the influence of drugs resulted in the death of one citizen and left an officer seriously injured. The directorate confirmed that the perpetrators were successfully apprehended.

3. MP Mustafa Sanad Exposes Land Usurpation

MP Mustafa Sanad continued his anti-corruption campaign by highlighting a case of land seizure. In a post, Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 13%) announced that, based on his notification, the Ministry of Transport had “stormed” land along a railway track that was allegedly usurped by former MP Mohammed al-Dayni. The issue was also picked up by Muna Sami (Post Impact: 3%), who commented that even the headquarters of al-Dayni’s “Sada al-Muwaten” (Citizen’s Echo) party was an “encroachment.”

4. Severe Cold Wave Grips Iraq

Iraqi social media was abuzz with news and warnings about a severe cold wave affecting the country. Pages like Al-Khwa Al-Nazifa (Post Impact: 6%) and Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 4%) reported that the peak of the cold front would be Tuesday, with temperatures reaching freezing, and that the wave would end next Thursday, according to the Meteorological Authority. Diyala Diyala TV (Post Impact: 2%) also confirmed that Tuesday would be the peak of the cold.

5. PM Al-Sudani Advances Baghdad Development Projects

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani’s official page highlighted his focus on major infrastructure and development projects in the capital. According to one post from The Engineer Mohamed Shia Al Sudani (Post Impact: 7%), the Prime Minister met with a delegation from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to discuss progress on the Baghdad International Airport development project and review the criteria for selecting an international company for the rehabilitation. Another post from the same page (Post Impact: 4%) detailed a meeting to launch the third phase of the historic Baghdad rehabilitation project, focusing on areas like Al-Midan and Al-Rashid Street, timed with Baghdad being named the 2025 Arab Capital of Tourism.

6. Support Voiced for Security Forces Amidst Cold

Amidst the severe cold, multiple pages expressed support for Iraqi security forces and shared news of a new directive benefiting their families. Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 8%) shared a video tribute to forces serving in the harsh weather, calling for prayers for them. Separately, pages like Support for the Iraqi Security Forces (Post Impact: 3%) and Maher Mouhi::The Voice of the Nation’s Protectors (Post Impact: 3%) announced that the Commander of Defense, Thabit al-Abbasi, had ordered the transfer of all families of martyrs to duty stations near their homes without needing a replacement, a move widely celebrated online.

7. Prayers for Rain Held Across Iraq

In response to dry weather conditions, Iraqis held prayers for rain (Salat al-Istisqa). Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 7%) and Bab Al-Toob (Post Impact: 2%) posted photos of the congregations, with captions asking God for relief, such as “#اللهم_اغثنا_بالغيث_المبارك🌧” (Oh Allah, grant us blessed rain). The event reflects a collective spiritual appeal for rainfall during a time of need.

8. Al-Nasr Alliance Proposes “Rafidain Initiative” for Syria

The Al-Nasr Alliance, led by former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, formally proposed a new “Rafidain Initiative” to the current government to address the situation in Syria. The Media Office of Dr. Haider Al-Abadi (Post Impact: 5%) outlined the initiative’s two components: a humanitarian relief effort to send fuel, medicine, and food to the Syrian people, and a political track to support a peaceful democratic transition. Dr. Haider Al-Abadi (Post Impact: 1%) emphasized that the initiative is part of Iraq’s responsibility to build hope and stability in the region.

9. Government Approves Christmas Holiday

The Iraqi government announced an official holiday for the Christian community to mark Christmas. The General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers (Post Impact: 4%) and Al-Khwa Al-Nazifa (Post Impact: 3%) reported that the Council of Ministers decided to grant a holiday on December 25th and 26th exclusively for Christian employees in all government institutions. The decision was made in accordance with the Official Holidays Law.

10. Human Interest Stories Gain High Engagement

Positive and humanitarian content resonated strongly with Iraqi audiences. A video posted by the page Baghdad (Post Impact: 100%), showing a woman’s tender care for an elderly person, went viral with the caption “That’s why they call them the tender, dear, precious ones.. ❤️”. In a similar vein, a post from Aziz Nasser – Aziz Nasser (Post Impact: 8%) celebrated the completion of a humanitarian project to provide a home for four orphaned siblings, stating, “Praise be to God, what was required has been completed… and the four (orphans of both parents) have settled and can live in a house as we all do.”