Based on an analysis of 348 Facebook posts trending on December 27, 2024, Miqrab AI found that conversations in Iraq were dominated by a mix of national pride, social controversy, and crime. The most engaging topic was the widespread support for the Iraqi national football team ahead of a crucial match. A significant social media controversy involving media personality Fatima Qaidar and her public apology to a sanitation worker also captured major attention. Additionally, stories of crime and subsequent police action, alongside a shocking allegation of corruption within the Ministry of Interior, were prominent themes, prompting official responses and public debate. Other key topics included high-level political meetings, the inauguration of new public infrastructure, and the impact of severe weather across the country.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Widespread Support for the National Football Team

The Iraqi national football team, the “Lions of Mesopotamia,” received an outpouring of support ahead of their decisive match against Saudi Arabia. The most impactful post came from former national team captain Younis Mahmoud (Post Impact: 100%), who expressed his unwavering confidence in the team’s ability to win, stating, “90 minutes are not impossible for you, O Lions.” Other pages, such as Diyala TV (Post Impact: 5%) and Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 2%), engaged their audiences by asking for score predictions for the crucial game that will determine qualification for the semi-finals. Politician Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 4%) also weighed in, humorously pleading with coach Jesús Casas to substitute player Mohammed Qasim.

2. Fatima Qaidar Apologizes to Sanitation Worker After Outcry

A social media controversy surrounding media personality Fatima Qaidar culminated in her public apology to a sanitation worker in Najaf. Multiple pages, including Al-Khwa Al-Nazifa (Post Impact: 21%) and Shaar Banat (Post Impact: 8%), reported that Qaidar traveled to Najaf to meet the worker after she was heavily criticized for allegedly describing his presence in a photo as a “foul.” The pages shared images of her presenting a rose to the man as a gesture of reconciliation. Accounts like Akher Al-Ahdath Al-Iraqiya (Post Impact: 3%) and Baghdad (Post Impact: 3%) framed the act as Qaidar “correcting her mistake” in front of a large crowd.

3. Corruption Allegation Prompts Ministry of Interior Investigation

A shocking allegation of corruption garnered significant attention after a video posted by Haider Al-Hamdani (Post Impact: 31%) went viral. The post claimed that an Iraqi engineer was forced to sell his kidney to pay a bribe to a police officer in Baghdad to halt an arrest warrant for his wife, describing it as “the strangest corruption incident witnessed by the Ministry of Interior.” In direct response to the circulation of this story, the Ministry of Interior’s official page (Post Impact: 5%) announced that Minister Abdul Amir Al-Shammari had ordered the formation of an investigative committee to uncover the facts. The ministry’s statement emphasized that the results would be presented to the public and that there would be no tolerance for any proven negligence.

4. Law Enforcement Actions in Karbala and Baghdad

Videos showcasing law enforcement operations were highly shared. Maher Mohi::Sawt Humat Al-Watan (Post Impact: 42%) posted a widely viewed video of Karbala’s emergency police arresting a man who was reportedly armed and blocking a street. The caption praised the “heroes of Karbala’s rescue police” for how they apprehended him. In a separate incident, the Baghdad Anti-Crime Directorate (Post Impact: 14%) shared a video of a raid on a workshop. The directorate stated that it had infiltrated the workshop, which was allegedly producing counterfeit vehicle parts and modifying vehicles for use in “suspicious activities,” and seized several of these vehicles.

5. PM Al-Sudani Holds Meetings with Top Political Leaders

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani conducted a series of high-level meetings with prominent Iraqi political figures, a topic covered by several official pages. The Prime Minister’s Media Office (Post Impact: 2%) reported that Al-Sudani met separately with Hadi Al-Amiri, Ammar Al-Hakim, and Mohammed Al-Halbousi. A similar post by Mohammed Al-Halbousi (Post Impact: 3%) confirmed his meeting with the Prime Minister. The discussions reportedly centered on the country’s general situation, support for the government’s program, and regional developments in Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon, with an emphasis on unifying efforts to maintain Iraq’s stability.

6. New Al-Shaab Hospital in Baghdad Nears Opening

The upcoming inauguration of the new Al-Shaab General Hospital in Baghdad was a topic of positive discussion. Pages like Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 4%) shared videos of the modern facility, expressing surprise by stating, “Believe it or not??? This structure is not a hotel or a mall, but a government hospital.” Similarly, Bikhidmatik (Post Impact: 1%) and Al-Qasr Al-Hukoumi (Post Impact: 1%) highlighted the hospital’s large scale and modern design, presenting it as a significant achievement for public healthcare in the capital.

7. Scrutiny of “Degrading Content” and Social Media Figures

The issue of controversial social media content and public figures was a trending topic. The page Al-Khwa Al-Nazifa (Post Impact: 10%) reported that the Committee on Degrading Content is taking legal action against an individual known as “Wissam Al-Saher.” In a related vein, journalist Qahtan Adnan (Post Impact: 9%) shared a clip from an interview with controversial online personality “Umm al-Loul,” in which she explains her reasons for becoming a dancer. These posts reflect an ongoing public and official conversation about the nature and regulation of content on social media platforms.

8. Holiday Celebrations in Baghdad

The festive atmosphere of the Christmas and New Year season in Baghdad was highlighted by several pages. Min Baghdad+ (Post Impact: 9%) shared a video showcasing the celebratory vibes and decorations around the capital. Another post from the page Baghdad (Post Impact: 1%) showed a Christmas tree being set up in the iconic Al-Mutanabbi Street to welcome the new year. These posts depicted a city embracing the holiday spirit.

9. Severe Weather Causes Accidents Across Iraq

Reports of incidents caused by severe weather conditions, including strong winds, circulated on Facebook. Khabar Ajel (Post Impact: 3%) reported a tragedy in Wasit where a young man died after a large tree fell on his shop during a windstorm. In Diyala, Diyala TV (Post Impact: 2%) posted that a tuk-tuk was blown into a river by the powerful winds. Sharq al-Iraq (Post Impact: 2%) also reported an incident in Diyala where a groom was injured by a falling tree while attending Friday prayers.

10. Media Personalities Fadel Abu Ragheef and Ahmed Mulla Talal Clash

A war of words erupted between media figures Fadel Abu Ragheef and Ahmed Mulla Talal. The story was highlighted by Tele Iraq (Post Impact: 4%), which reported on Abu Ragheef’s harsh response to Mulla Talal calling a guest a “sycophant” on his show. Abu Ragheef stated, “If I were in the guest’s place, I would have taken off my shoe and hit him on the head.” Ahmed Mulla Talal (Post Impact: 2%) fired back on his own page, insulting Abu Ragheef and suggesting the attack was motivated by his failure to be invited onto the program.