Based on a Miqrab AI analysis of 406 Facebook posts trending on February 3, 2025, the primary narratives in Iraq revolved around government service announcements sparking both straightforward reporting and public satire, alongside persistent attention on the activities of key political figures like Muqtada al-Sadr. A significant portion of the highest engagement was driven by non-political content, including viral videos with ambiguous captions and comedy sketches. Concurrently, discussions about daily life challenges, such as severe traffic congestion in Baghdad, were prominent, with pages offering varied perspectives from public complaint to official explanations and expert analysis. Diplomatic engagements and positive economic news also featured in the day’s conversations.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Baghdad Airport Toilets Praised and Mocked

Multiple pages reported on a statement from the Director of Baghdad International Airport regarding the rehabilitation of the airport’s sanitary facilities. Pages like Al-Khwa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 63%), Baghdad (Post Impact: 34%), and Shabakat Baghdad (Post Impact: 11%) shared the director’s claim that the facilities “have become among the best in the world’s airports.” This official announcement was met with sarcasm from other commentators. Page Rusly Al-Maliki – Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 5%) satirically framed the news as a “historic national address… to the great Iraqi people” over the rehabilitation of toilets, reflecting a cynical public reaction to the perceived priorities of officials.

2. Muqtada al-Sadr’s Continued Political and Social Presence

The activities of Sadrist leader Muqtada al-Sadr were a significant topic of discussion. His official media outlet, The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 24%), published his responses to questions and shared updates on his review of committees for fighters and martyrs’ families. In parallel, the media directorate for Saraya al-Salam – Central Media Directorate (Post Impact: 14%) reported on a meeting held by Haj Abu Mustafa al-Hamidawi with brigade commanders to emphasize adherence to al-Sadr’s directives. Media personality Sahar Abbas Jamil (Post Impact: 20%) also covered the topic, sharing a segment where politician Ezzat al-Shabandar appealed for al-Sadr’s return to politics, while Fatah al-Sheikh asserted that al-Sadr’s purity would not permit him to work with corrupt individuals.

3. Mourning the Death of Religious Figure Sheikh Ali al-Sabawi

The death of Sheikh Ali al-Sabawi, the imam and preacher of the Prophet Sheet Mosque, was announced and widely mourned on several pages. Bab Al-Toob (Post Impact: 36%) was a primary source for the news, sharing condolences for the religious leader. The same page, along with Mosul – MOSUL (Post Impact: 3%), later posted a video described as the last thing Sheikh al-Sabawi published hours before his death while in “the purest place on earth,” which resonated with their followers.

4. Vague “Disaster” Video Goes Viral with 100% Impact

A video shared by Mohammed Nasser Khalif (Post Impact: 100%) achieved maximum post impact, making it one of the most engaging pieces of content of the day. The post’s text was extremely brief and evocative, simply stating, “See the disaster.” This viral success, based on a short, ambiguous, and clickbait-style caption, highlights a major trend on the platform where curiosity and shock value drive extremely high levels of user interaction and engagement, often independent of news or political events.

5. Satirical “Pregnant Man” Sketch Draws High Engagement

A satirical video segment from the show “Al-Ghassala” (The Washing Machine), hosted by journalist Journalist Qahtan Adnan (Post Impact: 96%), captured significant audience attention. The post was promoted with the provocative and humorous headline, “A man becomes pregnant and does not know who the father of the child is!” The video’s high impact demonstrates the popularity of social satire and comedy sketches among Iraqi audiences on Facebook, with users actively engaging with content that uses humor to touch on social themes.

6. MP Salem al-Issawi Faces Criticism Over Statements

A video highlighting controversial statements by Member of Parliament Salem al-Issawi generated significant political discussion. The clip, shared by Dr. Aziz Rahim (Post Impact: 86%), drew attention to al-Issawi’s remarks, with the page noting that he “was a hot candidate for the parliament speakership.” The post sparked criticism and debate among followers, illustrating how social media is used as a platform to scrutinize and hold public figures accountable for their words.

7. Debates Erupt Over Worsening Baghdad Traffic Jams

Worsening traffic congestion in Baghdad was a prominent topic discussed from multiple viewpoints. Al-Adhamiya News (Post Impact: 17%) reported that the jams are “suffocating” the city, leading employees to demand a return to previous official work hours. In contrast, Khabar Ajel (Urgent News) (Post Impact: 9%) shared the Ministry of Interior’s official explanation, which attributed the traffic to increased tourism in the capital during the spring holiday. Meanwhile, the Iraqi Economists page (Post Impact: 4%) offered an expert analysis by engineer Manar al-Obeidi, who argued that poorly planned infrastructure projects have exacerbated the problem.

8. Iraqi Speaker al-Mashhadani Strengthens Ties with Iran

The official visit of Iraqi Parliament Speaker Dr. Mahmoud al-Mashhadani to Tehran was covered by political news pages. The speaker’s official page, Dr. Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani (Post Impact: 8%), posted about his meeting with Iranian Shura Council Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf, stating that they discussed cooperation between their legislative institutions and regional challenges. The news page Tele Iraq – Tele Iraq (Post Impact: 4%) focused its coverage on a key quote from the speaker, headlining its post with his declaration that “Iran is a very strong support for Iraq.”

9. Iraq Celebrates First-Ever Vegetable Oil Export

Positive economic news was shared by pages Maraya (Post Impact: 7%) and Iraqi Economists (Post Impact: 4%), which reported a historic first for the country. Both pages announced that Iraq had exported a 40,000-ton shipment of high-quality soybean oil through the port of Umm Qasr. The shipment was destined for Pakistan and India, marking a new development in Iraq’s non-oil export sector.

10. New Family Photo of Singer Kadim Al Sahir Shared

A new photograph of the celebrated Iraqi singer Kadim Al Sahir with his sons garnered positive attention from fans. Pages including Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 11%) and Baghdad (Post Impact: 4%) shared the image, describing it as a new appearance for “The Caesar” and his family. The posts reflect continued public interest in the personal lives of major cultural figures and celebrities.