Miqrab AI’s analysis of 444 trending Facebook posts in Iraq on January 14, 2025, reveals a strong focus on Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani’s official visit to the United Kingdom, which dominated discussions with multiple sub-narratives ranging from major economic deals to a controversial agreement on returning migrants. Domestically, there was significant critical engagement regarding government spending, particularly a large allocation for purchasing new vehicles for parliament members, alongside political criticism from Member of Parliament Mustafa Sanad concerning public employee benefits. Other major topics included statements by a U.S. Congressman targeting Iraqi armed factions, social commentary on a poet’s unconventional fees for advertisements, and widespread sharing of cultural and religious celebrations for the birth of Imam Ali.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. PM Al-Sudani’s UK Visit Yields Major Agreements

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani’s official visit to the United Kingdom was the most discussed topic, with pages covering multiple facets of the trip. A major point of discussion was an agreement signed with his British counterpart to repatriate illegal Iraqi migrants from the UK, a story highlighted by Al-Khuwa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 63%) and Maher Mouhi::Voice of the Homeland’s Protectors (Post Impact: 7%). The Prime Minister’s official page, Engineer Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani (Post Impact: 19%), released a joint statement detailing a historic partnership agreement including a massive £12.3 billion trade and export package covering water infrastructure, energy, and defense projects. Another positive outcome reported by pages like Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 17%) and Al-Qasr Al-Hukoumi (Post Impact: 11%) was Britain’s decision to upgrade Iraq’s travel advisory status, removing it from the high-risk “red list.”

2. Anger Over 54 Billion Dinar Allocation for MPs’ Cars

A story generating significant negative engagement revolves around the Iraqi Parliament’s decision to allocate 54 billion Iraqi dinars for the purchase of new vehicles for its members. The page Mohammed Nasser Khalif (Post Impact: 88%) shared a post with the simple, critical statement: “Voted. 54 billion to buy cars for members of the Iraqi Parliament.” This news was also reported by Fad Daqiqa (Post Impact: 5%), indicating the information was circulating among pages focused on government spending and accountability. The high impact of the initial post suggests widespread public disapproval of what is perceived as extravagant government expenditure.

3. MP Mustafa Sanad Criticizes Prime Minister Al-Sudani

Member of Parliament Mustafa Sanad launched a sharp critique against Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, accusing him of hypocrisy. In a high-impact post, Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 70%) sarcastically referred to Al-Sudani as the “valiant deputy” for objecting to a Ministry of Finance directive that halted allowances, promotions, and transfers for government employees. Sanad further mocked what he called the Prime Minister’s “#slow_electronic_army,” implying a disconnect between the government’s actions and its public relations efforts. He followed up with another critical video on his page, Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 40%), continuing his pattern of holding government officials to account.

4. Celebrations for the Birth of Imam Ali

Facebook pages across Iraq shared content celebrating the birth of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib. The celebrations were depicted in various forms, from personal acts of devotion to community gatherings. The page Baghdad (Post Impact: 55%) shared a widely viewed video of an elderly woman celebrating the occasion on the Basra corniche, a post that received high engagement for its heartfelt nature. Other pages like Aziz Nasser (Post Impact: 14%) and MP Dr. Haider Al-Salami (Post Impact: 10%) also posted congratulations and religious messages, highlighting the cultural and spiritual significance of the day for many Iraqis.

5. Poet Shahad Al-Shamri’s Controversial Ad Fees Discussed

The advertising fees charged by poet Shahad Al-Shamri became a topic of public discussion after pages revealed her unconventional payment method. The Iraqi News Center (Post Impact: 53%) reported that for an ad promoting a car dealership, she takes a car, and for a residential complex, she receives a house or an apartment. The post directly asked for public opinion on her prices. Similarly, Nabdh Al-Iraq (Post Impact: 14%) quoted Al-Shamri justifying her fees by stating her ads cost millions and that she endured many “painful stations” in her journey to become “Iraq’s top poet.”

6. US Congressman Vows Action Against Badr Organization

Statements from U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson targeting Iraqi armed factions, specifically the Badr Organization, were shared by several pages. Al-Khuwa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 51%) reported Wilson’s post on platform X, where he accused the Iraqi government of funding the Badr Organization, which he claims “attacked our embassy and killed a group of Americans.” Wilson added that it was “unfortunate that American taxes continue to flow to Iraq but Trump will fix that.” The page Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 19%) added that Wilson has been trying for years to classify Badr as a terrorist organization and that he promises former President Trump will “fix the matter,” indicating rising tensions from Washington.

7. Humanitarian Effort for an Abandoned Woman

A humanitarian story about a woman left without a family or shelter gained significant traction from a single post by media personality Aziz Nasser. The video post from Aziz Nasser (Post Impact: 53%) explained the woman’s plight, stating she was “left alone without family or a roof to protect her.” The post documented a volunteer effort to assist her, noting that “with the help of good people… she is in a better condition and we will continue to follow up,” showcasing a story of community support and drawing praise from followers.

8. Iraq’s Airspace Highlighted as a Key International Corridor

A positive geopolitical story about the strategic importance of Iraq’s airspace was shared across multiple pages. Both Imar Al-Iraq (Post Impact: 36%) and Iraq Telescope (Post Impact: 31%) explained that Iraqi airspace is currently the main transit route between Europe and countries in the Gulf and Southwest Asia. The pages noted that this route is more direct and shorter due to the Earth’s curvature, leading many airlines to prefer it to reduce flight times and fuel consumption. The posts were accompanied by an image showing the high volume of air traffic over the country.

9. Diyala Police Chief Issues Stern Warning to “Thugs”

The police chief of Diyala province garnered attention for issuing a strong warning to criminals and troublemakers in the region. A video of the chief’s statement was shared by pages like Diyala TV (Post Impact: 23%), which described the content as a “strong message to the thugs.” The page Iraqeen W Bas (Post Impact: 29%) also shared the video of the police chief, indicating a public interest in assertive security measures and law enforcement messaging in the province.

10. Ministry of Education Bans Private Tutoring for Teachers

The Ministry of Education has taken official steps to prohibit teachers from giving private lessons, a move that was reported by several news pages. Diyala TV (Post Impact: 16%) reported that the ministry has directed school administrations to require all teaching staff to sign a formal pledge committing them not to engage in private tutoring. The page Bab Al-Toob (Post Impact: 18%) also confirmed the news, stating that a “written pledge for teachers and educators” is now officially required to prevent them from offering private lessons.