Based on an analysis of 437 Facebook posts trending on January 15, 2025, Miqrab AI identified several key narratives dominating Iraqi social media. The most engaged-with topic was personal news concerning a national figure, specifically the tragic death of the sister of former football captain Younis Mahmoud. Political activity was also a major theme, with significant attention on Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s diplomatic and economic meetings during his visit to London. Concurrently, discussions around domestic economic policies, including criticism of the central bank’s dollar sales, gained traction. International news, particularly the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza and the subsequent celebrations in Iraq, was widely shared, alongside sports news celebrating Barcelona’s victory and local social issues.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Younis Mahmoud Mourns the Loss of His Sister

The most prominent story on Facebook was the announcement by former Iraqi national football team captain, Younis Mahmoud, of his sister’s death following a tragic accident. On his official page, Younis Mahmoud (Post Impact: 100%) shared the news and details for a condolence service to be held in Baghdad. The news was widely shared by other pages, including Iraqeen W Bas (Post Impact: 3%) and Bab Altoob (Post Impact: 2%), both of which expressed their condolences and shared the sad news with their followers.

2. Economic Concerns and Criticism of Government Policy

Economic issues were a point of focus, driven by critical commentary from media personalities and politicians. Qahtan Adnan (Post Impact: 19%) shared a reel titled “بعد ماكو رواتب ولا دولار!” which translates to “No more salaries or dollars!”, suggesting impending financial difficulties. Adding to this, Member of Parliament Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 3%) pointed out that dollar sales reached a record $81 billion in 2024. He critically contrasted this figure with a statement from the Prime Minister that $12 billion is sufficient for imports, implying the remainder was smuggled out of the country.

3. PM Al Sudani’s Diplomatic and Economic Meetings in London

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s official visit to London was a significant topic. The Prime Minister’s Media Office (Post Impact: 10%) reported on his meeting with former Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, where he checked on his health. This was also covered by Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 2%). Additionally, the Prime Minister’s personal page, Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani (Post Impact: 4%), detailed a meeting with representatives from 24 major British companies, where he promoted Iraq’s improved investment environment and highlighted economic reforms to attract foreign businesses.

4. FC Barcelona Secures Dominant 5-1 Victory in Copa del Rey

Sports fans and news pages celebrated FC Barcelona’s decisive 5-1 win against Real Betis in the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. Al-Khwa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 10%) directly reported on the match result. The score of five goals was also a point of humorous commentary on other pages. For instance, Set Ashwaq Um Al-Qanouniya (Post Impact: 7%) posted an image with the caption “مامه ذوله هم فازوا خمسة .” (“Mama, these guys also won by five.”), and Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 1%) also noted, “احنا همينا فزنا بالخمسة” (“We also won by five”).

5. Narrative of “Liberating Iraq from Influence” Circulates

A coordinated narrative about breaking “chains of influence” in Iraq was shared across related media pages. Tele Iraq (Post Impact: 4%) and Tele Iraq Media (Post Impact: 4%) published identical posts featuring an image with the text “تحرير العراق: صراع لكسر سلاسل النفوذ” which translates to “The Liberation of Iraq: A Struggle to Break the Chains of Influence.” The posts did not provide further details on the specific nature of the “influence” being referenced, leaving the statement open to interpretation.

6. Celebrations in Iraq Following Gaza Ceasefire Announcement

News of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza prompted widespread reactions and celebrations across Iraq. Tech 4 Peace (Post Impact: 1%) was among the pages that officially announced the agreement. Following the news, several pages, including Maher Mohi (Post Impact: 3%), Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 3%), and Bab Altoob (Post Impact: 2%), shared videos of celebratory takbirs (chants of “Allahu Akbar”) being broadcast from mosques in Baghdad. Al-Adhamiyah News (Post Impact: 2%) specifically reported large celebrations in the streets of the Adhamiyah district.

7. Dr. Fadil Al-Nuaimi Announces Gender of Second Child

On a lighter social note, several pages shared news about public figure Dr. Fadil Al-Nuaimi. The pages Sher Banat (Post Impact: 2%) and Klecha (Post Impact: 1%) posted videos showing Dr. Al-Nuaimi revealing the gender of his second child, which will be a boy named Al-Layth. The posts captured a personal moment for the well-known personality, drawing engagement from followers of entertainment and lifestyle pages.

8. MPs Oppose Proposed Law on Public Service Fees

Two members of parliament voiced their strong opposition to a proposed law aimed at regulating fees for government services. MP Noor Nafea Al-Julihawi (Post Impact: 1%) described the law as an “injustice” that would burden citizens by charging them for services that should be free. Similarly, MP Dr. Haider Al-Salami (Post Impact: 1%) held a press conference arguing that the law improperly transfers legislative powers to the executive branch and would open the door to arbitrary fees. Both MPs pledged to work towards withdrawing the bill.

9. Content Creator “Raed Abu Hamra” Arrested

Security-focused pages reported the arrest of an individual known as “Raed Abu Hamra” on charges related to his online content. Both Da’am Al-Quwwat Al-Amniya Al-Iraqiya (Post Impact: 1%) and Markaz Al-I’lam Al-Iraqi (Post Impact: 1%) shared posts stating he was apprehended for producing “المحتوى الهابط” (indecent or low-quality content). This action is part of a broader campaign by Iraqi authorities to regulate online expression and content creation.

10. Mohammed Al-Halbousi Attends Football Match in Baghdad

The head of the Taqaddum Party, Mohammed Al-Halbousi, was seen attending a local football match. His official Facebook page, Mohammed Al-Halbousi (Post Impact: 1%), shared photos and a video (Post Impact: 1%) showing him among the spectators at Al-Zawraa Stadium. The posts from his media office stated he was there to watch the game between Al-Zawraa and Al-Naft clubs, sharing the experience with the sports fans.