Miqrab AI’s analysis of 419 Facebook posts on January 7, 2025, reveals that the dominant narrative was the tragic death of a young woman named Malak after drowning in Hamrin Lake, with widespread expressions of grief and praise for the diver who recovered her body. Other significant conversations focused on the activities of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani’s government, including cabinet decisions and energy investments. Political debates also featured prominently, with discussions surrounding a controversial salary deduction for foreign aid and provocative statements from a member of parliament, while topics of daily life, such as severe weather and national anniversaries, also garnered significant attention across Iraqi social media.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Body of Drowned Woman Malak Found in Hamrin Lake

The most engaging story across Iraqi Facebook was the tragic death of a young woman identified as “Malak,” whose body was found in Hamrin Lake in Diyala province after a five-day search. According to pages like Iraq Plus Network (Post Impact: 32%) and Diyala Diyala TV (Post Impact: 17%), she fell from a boat during a family outing. The diver, identified as Abu Muhammad, reportedly found her body at a depth of six meters. The page Iraq Plus Network quoted the diver as saying he found Malak “as if she were sleeping under the water.” Numerous pages, including Iraqeen W Bas (Post Impact: 11%) and Baghdad (Post Impact: 8%), shared the news of her body’s recovery, expressing condolences and asking for prayers for her family.

2. PM Al-Sudani Chairs Cabinet and Pursues Gas Investment

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani’s official page, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani (Post Impact: 15%), was active in reporting on his recent governmental duties. In one post, he announced that he chaired a meeting with representatives of Hilal Oil Company to discuss government plans for gas investment. He directed the Ministry of Electricity to contract with Hilal for 100 million standard cubic feet of gas and instructed the Ministry of Oil to expedite the investment process in the Khashm al-Ahmar-injana field in Diyala. In other posts, the Prime Minister’s page detailed the outcomes of the first cabinet session of the new year, which included approving funds for 1,000 model schools, completing stalled projects, and making decisions related to the energy and aviation sectors, as detailed by Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani (Post Impact: 11%) and Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani (Post Impact: 12%).

3. Controversy Over 1% Salary Deduction for Gaza and Lebanon

A significant debate emerged regarding the government’s decision to deduct 1% from the salaries of all state employees and retirees as a donation to support Gaza and Lebanon. The page of MP Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 6%) shared an article from Info Plus Network that frames the opposition to the deduction as an “artificial fuss,” while also highlighting that he and other figures have strongly opposed the move. Conversely, Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 2%) argued that the public anger over this small deduction reveals how fragile the relationship between citizens and the state is, suggesting it is based solely on salaries. Ahmed Althawaq (Post Impact: 4%) contrasted the outrage with the situation in the Kurdistan Region, where he claims the government withheld 60 salaries without similar protest.

4. Widespread Praise for Diver Who Found Malak’s Body

Following the recovery of Malak’s body, a separate narrative of praise and admiration emerged for the diver who found her. Identified as “Raed” and “Abu Muhammad,” pages lauded him as a hero who spent hours searching in cold water. Maher Mohi::Sawt Humat Al-Watan (Post Impact: 15%) posted, “All thanks and appreciation to the heroic diver Raed… he deserves to be honored.” This sentiment was echoed by Bab Altoob (Post Impact: 8%) and Shabakat Baghdad (Post Impact: 5%), who shared images of the diver and emphasized his perseverance. The posts collectively called for official recognition of his efforts in bringing closure to the grieving family.

5. Iraqi Army’s 104th Anniversary Commemorated Online

Several Facebook pages commemorated the 104th anniversary of the founding of the Iraqi Army. Pages such as Tele Iraq – تيلي عراق (Post Impact: 9%) and Tele Iraq – تيلي عراق ميديا (Post Impact: 9%) shared posts with the message, “Iraqi Army.. the protector of our country.” The occasion was also acknowledged by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, who, according to his official page (Post Impact: 11%), reviewed the “bright stations” of the army’s history during his cabinet meeting, emphasizing that the country’s current security and stability are the result of its sacrifices.

6. MP Sajjad Salem Criticizes Political Establishment

Member of Parliament Sajjad Salem generated discussion with a series of provocative statements about Iraq’s political situation. According to Yalla (Post Impact: 6%), Salem described Adel Abdul Mahdi as the “worst prime minister in Iraq’s history” and asserted that armed factions “will be buried soon.” The page Min Baghdad+ (Post Impact: 3%) quoted him vowing that if an external force were to overthrow the current system, Iraqis would “rejoice and gloat at the fall of this class that has enslaved them.” The comments sparked debate about the state of the country and the role of its political leaders and armed groups.

7. Proposal to Name Hamrin Bridge After Malak

In the aftermath of Malak’s death, a formal proposal was made to name a local landmark in her honor. As reported by Diyala Diyala TV (Post Impact: 8%) and Sharq Iraq – East of Iraq (Post Impact: 2%), Fares Mazahim Al-Jabouri, the head of the Energy Committee in the Diyala Provincial Council, officially requested that the bridge over Hamrin Lake be named “Malak Bridge.” The initiative is intended to “immortalize her memory” and serve as a gesture of solidarity with her family following the tragic drowning incident.

8. Heavy Rains Cause Flooding and School Closures

Several pages reported on weather conditions across Iraq, noting heavy and continuous rainfall in Baghdad and other regions. Telescope Iraq (Post Impact: 9%) posted about the ongoing rain in the capital. The adverse weather conditions led to practical consequences, as Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 3%) and Nafs Iraq (Post Impact: 3%) announced that official school attendance was suspended in the provinces of Muthanna and Diwaniyah. Additionally, a video shared by Mohammad Nasser Khalif (Post Impact: 8%) showed flooded streets, noting that students were unable to reach their exams.

9. Updates on National Infrastructure Projects

Progress on several major infrastructure projects across Iraq was a topic of discussion. Baghdad Govermente (Post Impact: 2%) stated that the Baghdad-Mosul entrance is nearing its opening in 2025. The same project was also highlighted in a video by Iraq Projects (Post Impact: 3%). The Iraq Projects page also reported that the Turkish Hospital in the city of Kut, under construction since 2012, is only a few months away from opening, and shared a video showcasing developed streets in the city of Nasiriyah. These posts suggest a focus on the completion of long-stalled and new development works.

10. Electoral Commission Reports on Biometric Registration

The official page of The Independent High Electoral Commission (Post Impact: 4%) provided updates on its voter registration efforts. The commission published its weekly report on the biometric registration process across the provinces. In a separate post, the page (Post Impact: 5%) shared its weekly report on the distribution of biometric voter cards. These updates are part of the commission’s ongoing efforts to keep the public informed about electoral preparations.