Based on an analysis of 454 trending Facebook posts on March 5, 2025, Miqrab AI identified several key narratives circulating in Iraq. The most dominant story by engagement was sports-related, celebrating FC Barcelona’s victory in the Champions League. Politics was another major theme, with significant activity from Muqtada al-Sadr’s official office page covering his statements and Ramadan events, alongside heated debates among other political figures regarding elections, regionalism, and past government performance. Current events such as heavy rainfall across the country and subsequent calls for a public holiday also gained traction. Finally, entertainment content, particularly discussions and clips from popular Ramadan television series, captured significant user interest.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. FC Barcelona’s Champions League Victory

The victory of FC Barcelona over Benfica in the Champions League round of 16 was the most engaging topic on Facebook. Pages celebrated the team’s 1-0 win, highlighting that Barcelona achieved it despite being down to ten players. Alkhowa Alnadifa (Post Impact: 46%) announced the result, as did Nafs Al Iraq (Post Impact: 4%). The page Set Ashwaq um Alqanounia (Post Impact: 25%) posted enthusiastically, stating, “With a red card, with the refereeing, with ten players, Barcelona wins, meaning it wins, and on their home ground.” Many other pages, including Bab Al-Tob (Post Impact: 4%) and Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 4%), also shared posts congratulating the team and its fans on the win.

2. Muqtada al-Sadr’s Office Engages Followers During Ramadan

The official Facebook page for Muqtada al-Sadr’s office was highly active, sharing several updates that garnered significant engagement. The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 34%) republished a statement made by al-Sadr on the “X” platform. The same page also shared answers provided by al-Sadr to questions posed by his followers in a post by The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 19%). In another update, The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 11%) posted about the nightly Ramadan prayers and worship program being held at the Fatima al-Zahra Mosque in Najaf, under the patronage of al-Sadr’s office.

3. Ramadan TV Series Spark Discussion

Iraqi television series airing during Ramadan are a popular topic of conversation. The comedy series “Qatt Ahmar 5” (Red Cat 5) was promoted through several short clips posted by its star, Ahmed Waheed (Post Impact: 17%) and Ahmed Waheed (Post Impact: 17%). Separately, the drama series “Al-Ishrin” (The Twenty) is receiving high praise. The page Ahmed Al-Thawaq (Post Impact: 17%) called it one of the best dramas of the season, describing it as “classy and from reality” for its portrayal of the sacrifices of Iraqi women, particularly from the south, and lauded the performance of actress Alaa Hussein. Meanwhile, Shojaa Faris (Post Impact: 6%) commented on the broader theme of drama series, defending their right to portray negative aspects of society and criticizing those who take offense, stating, “A series that embodies the reality of society, accept it as it is.”

4. Political Tensions and Debates Escalate

Heated political discussions involving prominent figures were widely shared. Khabar Ajel (Post Impact: 18%) highlighted a segment from the show “Al-Muqaraba” where Mashaan al-Jubouri responded to Nouri al-Maliki, stating, “Give us our sons from the prisons and take your militants from our areas.” In another debate, Aladhamiya News (Post Impact: 13%) reported that MP Hanan al-Fatlawi defended Shia religious practices, asserting that lamentation and weeping are part of their faith. Separately, discussions around former Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s potential return were fueled by comments from political analyst Ezzat al-Shabandar, as shared by Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 6%), who claimed al-Kadhimi planned to enter the next election in an alliance with current PM Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, a proposal al-Sudani reportedly rejected.

5. Heavy Rains Prompt Calls for Public Holiday

A wave of heavy rain across Iraq became a major news story, leading to calls for a day off from work and school. The page Alkhowa Alnadifa (Post Impact: 16%) reported on a forecast from the Iraqi Meteorological Organization, which stated that the rainy weather would continue for the next five days. Pages like Markaz Al-Iraqi Al-Khabari (Post Impact: 6%) and Ayoun Baghdadiah (Post Impact: 4%) posted about the intense downpour specifically in Baghdad. The severe weather and subsequent flooding of streets led to public demands for the government to declare Thursday a holiday, a sentiment shared by Ayoun Al Iraq (Post Impact: 3%) and Nafs Al Iraq (Post Impact: 3%).

6. Debate Over Iraqi Federalism and National Unity

The topic of dividing Iraq into federal regions or the potential for civil war was discussed by multiple commentators. Journalist Muna Sami (Post Impact: 16%) posted a strong warning, stating that “The division of Iraq will only lead to… a civil war!!” This sentiment was echoed in a video shared by Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 10%), which addressed what he called “croaking voices” calling for a “Shiite region” or “Shiite state” in southern Iraq. The video post pointedly included a note directed at former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, suggesting his connection to such ideas.

7. Celebrity Influencer Tamara Jamal Gives Birth

Social media influencer Tamara Jamal giving birth to a baby girl named Rafif was a popular piece of celebrity news. The page Nabdh Al Iraq (Post Impact: 8%) shared a video of the occasion, highlighting the joy of the baby’s father and grandmother. Another page, Ayoun Al Iraq (Post Impact: 16%), also celebrated the news that Tamara was discharged safely. A follow-up video from Nabdh Al Iraq (Post Impact: 3%) showed fellow influencer Baraa gifting Tamara $200 to celebrate the birth of her daughter.

8. New Tech from MWC 2025 Showcased

New technology unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona caught the attention of Iraqi tech enthusiasts. The page Hussein – IMADTech (Post Impact: 17%) shared a video of Xiaomi’s new electric car, expressing amazement that it can accelerate to 100 km/h in under two seconds and noting that “The Chinese are sweeping all fields.” In another post, Hussein – IMADTech (Post Impact: 9%) showcased innovations from the electronics company Tecno, including a hand-sized computer with water cooling and a new generation of smart glasses, praising the company for its impressive display at the conference.

9. Fallujah-Baghdad Train Derails

News of a train derailment on the Fallujah-Baghdad line was reported by local news pages. According to Al Iraq (Post Impact: 6%), the train went off its tracks near the rural area of Khan Dhari, causing extensive damage to several of its carriages. The page Al Anbar Mohafathati (Post Impact: 3%) also reported on the incident, confirming that the Baghdad-Anbar train was out of service following the derailment.

10. Government Focuses on National Security

Iraqi government and security institutions highlighted their focus on national security through several official posts. The Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister (Post Impact: 3%) reported on a meeting of the Ministerial Council for National Security, chaired by PM Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, which discussed enhancing border security and confronting extremism. Concurrently, Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (ICTS) (Post Impact: 4%) announced that its head, General Karim al-Tamimi, met with National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji to discuss security developments. On the operational front, Iraqi Special Operations Forces (Post Impact: 3%) shared news of a successful air-drop mission that destroyed enemy hideouts in the Balkana region.