Based on an analysis of 441 Facebook posts trending on March 21, 2025, Miqrab AI identified several key narratives dominating online conversations in Iraq. The most engaging content centered on the emotional public reaction to the Ramadan television series “Al-Naqib,” which chronicles the life of martyred intelligence officer Harith Al-Sudani. Strong political commentary also featured prominently, with high-impact posts criticizing government corruption and discussing regional political fragmentation. Other significant topics included religious commemorations for the martyrdom of Imam Ali, news of an attack on the Iraqi consulate in Istanbul, an incident involving the safety of Iraqi pilgrims, and announcements regarding public sector salary payments.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Emotional Response to “Al-Naqib” TV Series and Harith Al-Sudani

A Ramadan TV series titled “Al-Naqib” (The Captain), dramatizing the story of intelligence officer and martyr Harith Al-Sudani, has captured significant public attention. Widespread emotional reactions were shared across Facebook, particularly focusing on a video showing the actor who played Al-Sudani, Haider Abu Al-Abbas, meeting the martyr’s mother. Pages like Al-Khwa Al-Nathifa (Post Impact: 100%) and Shabakat Baghdad (Post Impact: 11%) shared the moving footage, with the former titling it, “I fulfilled my promise, mom.” Journalist Muna Sami (Post Impact: 14%) reflected on meeting Al-Sudani’s parents two years ago, stating she felt a duty to convey his story. Pages like Al Iraq (Post Impact: 8%) and Baghdad (Post Impact: 7%) also highlighted the emotional meeting.

2. Salem Mashkour on Corruption and Political Division

Journalist Salem Mashkour shared two high-impact video reels criticizing the state of affairs in the region. In one video, Salem Mashkour (Post Impact: 72%) alleges massive corruption in the pharmaceutical sector, claiming, “7 billion dollars in medicine imports, and the result is empty hospital pharmacies and party funds swollen with illicit money.” He describes this as part of a larger, comprehensive corruption problem. In another widely shared reel, Salem Mashkour (Post Impact: 62%) comments on regional politics, asserting that “what is happening is the implementation of a policy to divide these countries into warring statelets.” His posts generated significant discussion about government mismanagement and foreign influence.

3. Muqtada al-Sadr’s Statements and Charitable Activities

The official page for Muqtada al-Sadr’s private office was active, sharing his recent activities and statements. The most prominent post from The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 43%) highlighted a post al-Sadr made on the “X” social media platform. The page also shared updates on charitable work directed by al-Sadr, including a video from The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 11%) showing the continued distribution of Iftar meals to Lebanese families throughout Ramadan from the “Host of the Al-Sadr Family” in Lebanon, an initiative ordered by al-Sadr himself.

4. Mosul Pilgrims Survive Facility Malfunction

A video showing a group of Umrah pilgrims from Mosul narrowly escaping injury due to a structural malfunction circulated on Facebook. The pages Bab Al-Toob (Post Impact: 37%) and Mosul – MOSUL (Post Impact: 7%) both shared footage of the incident, describing it as the “survival of Umrah pilgrims from #Mosul due to a defect striking the facility.” The video shows a ceiling panel or part of the structure collapsing near where the pilgrims were gathered, causing panic but resulting in no reported casualties.

5. Commemoration of Imam Ali’s Martyrdom

Iraqi officials and public figures commemorated the martyrdom of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s page, Engineer Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani (Post Impact: 17%), shared a televised address where he described Imam Ali’s life as a model for governance and justice, connecting his teachings to contemporary issues like fighting corruption and uniting the Islamic nation. Similarly, pages like Al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue R.C.D (Post Impact: 15%) and former official Hakim Al-Zamili (Post Impact: 13%) posted messages of condolence and reflection on the occasion.

6. Historical Footage of Iran-Iraq War Airstrike Circulates

Pages managed by Rusly Al-Maliki shared archival combat footage that they identified as being from the Iran-Iraq War, referred to in the post as the “Qadisiyyah” war. The video, posted by Rusly Al-Maliki – Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 19%) and a second Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 4%) page, allegedly depicts an Iraqi airstrike by Mirage F1 jets on an Iranian power station. The post highlights the pilot’s audio, capturing him saying, “يلا اخويه يلا” (Let’s go, brother, let’s go), and sparked discussions among followers about Iraq’s military history.

7. Criticism of Analyst Nashat Akram’s Commentary on National Team

Football analyst and former national team captain Nashat Akram faced criticism for his commentary on the Iraqi national team following a match. The page Khabar Ajel (Post Impact: 18%) stated that observers noted Akram’s remarks on the Al-Kass channel were entirely critical of the team, players, and performance. The post questioned his approach, asking, “Because you represent your country, should you criticize everything..?” Another post by Ali Al-Jaber (Post Impact: 5%) seemed to echo this sentiment with a poetic critique of those who are positive abroad but harbor “hatred” when they see their own.

8. Announcement on Public Employee Salary Payments

News pages announced the upcoming disbursement of salaries for all public employees. The posts from Eyes of Iraq (Post Impact: 19%) and Iraqi News Center (Post Impact: 11%) both stated that “Sunday, corresponding to 3/23, all employee salaries will be paid without deductions.” This news was widely shared, providing important financial information for a large segment of the population.

9. Armed Attack on Iraqi Consulate in Istanbul

Several pages reported an armed attack targeting the Iraqi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. According to Al-Khwa Al-Nathifa (Post Impact: 13%), the consulate was targeted by a Kalashnikov attack, but no injuries were reported, and Turkish authorities subsequently increased security. Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 6%) added that the attack was carried out by two gunmen who fired nine shots from an automatic weapon. The page Baghdad (Post Impact: 3%) also covered the incident, confirming the building came under fire.

10. Cold Weather Wave and Snowfall Reported Across Iraq

News and community pages reported on a cold wave affecting various regions of Iraq. Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 10%) announced that a cold wave had entered the country and was expected to last until the following Tuesday. The page Iraq Telescope (Post Impact: 9%) noted this was the fourth cold wave so far and asked followers about the weather in their areas. In a related post, Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 4%) shared a video showing snowfall in the Amadiya district of Duhok province.