Based on an analysis of 376 Facebook posts trending on January 26, 2025, Miqrab AI identified several key narratives circulating in Iraq. The day’s conversation was dominated by international sports news, specifically overwhelming victories by FC Barcelona, which generated the highest engagement. Alongside this, there were significant religious and historical commemorations, including the martyrdom of Imam Musa al-Kadhim, which saw widespread participation and security mobilization, and the 20th anniversary of the death of Othman Al-Obeidi, who is remembered as a national hero. Discussions also covered local news, including heroic acts and tragic incidents, updates on major infrastructure projects, and official government and diplomatic activities.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. FC Barcelona’s Dominant Victories in Spain

The most engaging topic on Facebook was FC Barcelona’s major successes in Spanish football. Multiple pages celebrated two significant wins. The page Al-Khawa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 100%) reported that the Barcelona women’s team won the Spanish Super Cup after defeating Real Madrid 5-0. The same page also covered the men’s team “sweeping” Valencia 7-1 in the Spanish league in a separate post with high engagement (Al-Khawa Al-Nadhifa Post Impact: 64%). This lopsided victory was also highlighted by pages like Set Ashwaq Um Al-Qanouniya (Post Impact: 31%), which called the team the “strongest attacking system in Europe and the world,” and Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 12%).

2. Remembering the Heroism of Othman Al-Obeidi

Pages commemorated the 20th anniversary of the martyrdom of Othman Al-Obeidi, a man from Adhamiyah hailed as a national hero. The page Set Ashwaq Um Al-Qanouniya (Post Impact: 55%) recounted the story from the 2005 Al-Aaimmah bridge stampede, explaining that Al-Obeidi, a swimmer, jumped into the Tigris River to save drowning pilgrims. He reportedly saved six people “without knowing or asking if they were Sunni or Shia” before drowning himself while trying to rescue an elderly woman. The page noted his death became a symbol that helped “extinguish the fire of a civil war.” Similarly, the Baghdad (Post Impact: 10%) page stated that the family of “the heroic and zealous martyr Othman Al-Obeidi is in the hearts of Iraqis,” and his memory is renewed each year with the commemoration of Imam Musa al-Kadhim.

3. Millions Commemorate Martyrdom of Imam Musa al-Kadhim

The religious pilgrimage marking the martyrdom of Imam Musa al-Kadhim was a major topic of discussion. Pages across Facebook shared condolences, reported on security measures, and highlighted the massive turnout. Aziz Nasser – Aziz Nasser (Post Impact: 45%) shared a video tribute, praying for Iraq’s well-being. Security and organizational efforts were noted, with Al-Abbas Combat Division/26th Brigade (Post Impact: 12%) showing its active participation in the security plan. Official condolences were issued by many, including the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (Post Impact: 6%) and Hakim Al-Zamili (Post Impact: 8%). A video shared by Iraqi News Center (Post Impact: 5%) showing a Christian woman respectfully stopping a symbolic funeral procession in Karrada was praised as a moment of interfaith respect.

4. MBC to Film “The Message” Sequel in Diwaniyah

A widely shared post from Haider Khalaf Ghazi (Post Impact: 52%) announced that the MBC channel has begun filming the second part of the movie “The Message” in Diwaniyah. The post specifies that the project is being undertaken in collaboration with a Spanish company named Ansar Allah and has a substantial budget of 320 billion Iraqi dinars. This news about a major international film production taking place in an Iraqi province generated significant engagement.

5. Wasit Professor Dies After Heroically Saving a Child

Iraqi pages mourned the death of Dr. Saadi Hussein Al-Hamil, a professor at Wasit University, who died in what was described as a heroic act. According to Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 26%), Dr. Al-Hamil passed away after attempting to save a child from drowning in a river in the Aziziya district of Wasit province, an act the page attributed to his “chivalry and honor.” The page East of Iraq (Post Impact: 4%) also reported his death, noting that he had been in the hospital for several days after rescuing children, including his nephew, from the river.

6. Progress on Major Baghdad Infrastructure Projects

Pages highlighted significant urban development in Baghdad, focusing on two major projects. Baghdad Projects (Post Impact: 22%) shared an update on the construction of the Yarmouk City residential complex on the Ghazaliyah highway. The project is described as the first of its kind in the capital, featuring 1,150 non-attached homes designed like palaces to offer privacy. Meanwhile, The Government Palace (Post Impact: 12%) reported that the overpass at the Al-Masafi intersection is 100% complete and will be opened soon after work on the approaches is finished.

7. Speaker of Parliament Discusses Laws with UN Envoy

The office of the Iraqi Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani, reported on his meeting with Mohammed Al-Hassan, the UN Secretary-General’s representative in Iraq. According to posts from both Dr. Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani (Post Impact: 8%) and the official Iraqi Parliament (Post Impact: 3%) page, the discussion covered recent amendments to the Personal Status Law, proposed legislation on domestic violence, and regional developments in Syria and Palestine. Dr. Al-Mashhadani was quoted as saying, “peace in Iraq means peace in the Middle East and consequently peace in the world,” and he called on the UN to help provide humanitarian aid to Gaza.

8. Conflicting Reports on New “Al-Hufra” TV Series

There were conflicting reports circulating about a new Ramadan television series. The page Political Satire (Post Impact: 4%) posted that a series titled “Al-Hufra” (The Pit) was being produced for Al-Sharqiya channel with a budget of 100 million dollars. However, this was later refuted by a post from Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 3%), which stated that director Samer Hikmat and the production company Madinat Al-Fan denied the existence of such a project. According to his post, the announcements circulating on other pages were “fake” and used the company’s name without authorization.

9. Official Statements on Security and Governance

Official government bodies issued statements on security and governance initiatives. The Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister (Post Impact: 6%) released a statement from the spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief, announcing a directive from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani to integrate more members of the Christian community into the local police force in Nineveh province. The move is aimed at supporting stability, reconstruction, and the diverse fabric of the region. In a separate statement, the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (Post Impact: 6%) offered condolences for the martyrdom of Imam al-Kadhim and affirmed its role in securing the pilgrimage, stating the Imam’s life provides lessons on how to “confront the most difficult circumstances with the fewest resources.”

10. Local Incidents and Tragedies Reported

News pages reported on separate fatal incidents in Wasit and Diyala provinces. Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 17%) shared the news of a young man named Firas who was killed in the city of Kut. The post stated he was run over by a driver following a dispute over a generator wire. In another tragic event, Diyala Diyala TV (Post Impact: 9%) reported that a motorcycle accident had led to the deaths of two young men in the Kanaan sub-district.