Based on an analysis of 436 Facebook posts on March 22, 2025, by Miqrab AI, online discourse in Iraq is dominated by a blend of political controversy, religious observance, and security updates. The most engaging topic involved widespread anger over the participation of Iraqi diplomat Dilshad Barzani in a Nowruz celebration at the Israeli embassy in Berlin, sparking calls for his prosecution under anti-normalization laws. Concurrently, statements from Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein rejecting Iraq’s involvement in regional conflicts and directives from Muqtada al-Sadr for Ramadan rituals garnered significant attention. The commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Ali was a major theme, with pages highlighting large-scale charitable iftars and millions of pilgrims. Narratives praising Prime Minister Al-Sudani’s government for service delivery and security improvements were also prominent, alongside the spread and subsequent official debunking of a rumor about Syrian workers allegedly planning to poison food.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Outrage Over Diplomat’s Visit to Israeli Embassy

A significant political controversy erupted on Iraqi Facebook after images surfaced showing Iraqi diplomat Dilshad Barzani, brother of former Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani, attending a Nowruz celebration at the Israeli embassy in Berlin. Pages like Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 18%), citing the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation, reported a “wave of anger in Iraq” and noted that Barzani faces potential prosecution under the Iraqi law criminalizing normalization with Israel, with penalties that could include life imprisonment or death. Other pages, such as Muna Sami (Post Impact: 7%), described the act as “treason” and questioned why the Kurdistan Region is left “outside the grip of the anti-normalization law.” The page Mohammad Al-Khazaei (Post Impact: 3%) also shared a clip discussing the event.

2. Commemorating the Martyrdom of Imam Ali

Facebook pages widely covered religious and charitable activities commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib. Philanthropist Hisham Al-Dhahabi (Post Impact: 31%) shared a video of a large Iftar meal he organized for 2,500 children on this occasion. The page Al-Khawa Al-Nadheefa (Post Impact: 14%) reported that the Holy Shrine of Imam Ali announced that the number of visitors commemorating the event reached 6,391,390. Meanwhile, The private office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 6%) detailed a mourning council held in Najaf. Politician Baqir Jabr Al-Zubaidi (Post Impact: 5%) posted a tribute, calling Imam Ali the “immortal voice of human justice.”

3. Foreign Minister: Iraq Is Not Part of Any Axis

Statements made by Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein during a television interview were a major topic of discussion. The page Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 28%) quoted the minister as saying, “Whoever wants to fight should go alone and not implicate Iraq.” Similarly, Khabar Ajel (Post Impact: 7%) highlighted Hussein’s assertion that Iraq is a sovereign state and “not part of the axis of resistance,” adding that the country does not recognize the concept of “unity of fronts” and does not want to “bring a catastrophe to our country.”

4. Debunked Rumor of a Plot by Syrian Workers

A security rumor spread rapidly before being officially debunked by authorities. Markaz Al-Iraqi Al-Khabari (Post Impact: 15%) shared an “urgent” security warning, allegedly from Baghdad Operations Command, which claimed that Syrian workers were planning to poison food and water in restaurants. However, pages such as Maher Mouhi:: Voice of the Homeland Protectors (Post Impact: 9%) and Hayder Khalaf Ghazi (Post Impact: 8%) quickly followed up with updates clarifying that Baghdad Operations Command had officially denied the authenticity of the circulated memo and its contents.

5. Muqtada al-Sadr’s Ramadan Directives and Posts

The official Facebook page of Muqtada al-Sadr’s office was active, relaying his messages and religious directives for Ramadan. One highly engaged post from The private office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 24%) shared a statement he published on the “X” platform. Another post from the same page (Post Impact: 13%) issued a call for believers to perform I’tikaf (religious seclusion) in the Great Mosque of Kufa from the 25th to the 27th night of Ramadan. These posts indicate a direct line of communication between the influential cleric and his followers during the holy month.

6. Praise for PM Al-Sudani’s Performance

A pro-government narrative praising the performance of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani circulated across several pages. The page The Government Palace (Post Impact: 18%) published a lengthy post listing Al-Sudani’s achievements, claiming he has restored citizen confidence, improved security, and attracted over $60 billion in investments. The page concluded, “Whether you’re upset or pleased, these are all facts.” Other pages like Al-Khawa Al-Nadheefa (Post Impact: 10%) highlighted specific projects under his direct supervision, such as the rehabilitation of Al-Rasheed Street in Baghdad. The official media office of the Iraqi Prime Minister (Post Impact: 6%) also posted about his follow-up meetings with provincial governors on service projects.

7. New “City of the Rose” Project Announced

News of a major development project planned for Iraq by Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris gained traction. Saqr Al Zakaria (Post Impact: 12%) and The Government Palace (Post Impact: 4%) reported on Sawiris’s statements to Sky News, where he announced that a new province named “Al-Ward” (The Rose) will be built in Iraq. The project is described as an architectural masterpiece that will feature the world’s largest garden. Sawiris was quoted as saying, “The City of the Rose is something that has not been seen before in the Arab region.” Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 2%) also covered the announcement.

8. Security Forces Increase Presence in Sinjar

Several pages focused on the movement of Iraqi security forces in the Sinjar region. The page Support for the Iraqi Security Forces (Post Impact: 10%) shared a video of the Law Enforcement Regiment’s Special Missions فوج and Iraqi Special Forces in the Sinjar mountains. In another post, the same page (Post Impact: 9%) posted a defiant message stating, “Our men are roaming Sinjar now, let anyone who has the guts stand in their way.” Similarly, Markaz Al-Iraqi Al-Khabari (Post Impact: 7%) posted a video with the caption, “The lions have entered Sinjar.”

9. Viral Video of a News Reporter’s Slip-up

A humorous video clip with extremely high engagement resurfaced on Facebook. Shared by the page Maraya (Post Impact: 100%), the video shows a news reporter making a verbal mistake on a live broadcast. The page captioned it as “An old clip, but you never get tired of it.” The high impact of this single post indicates a strong appetite for lighthearted and comedic content among Iraqi Facebook users.

10. Cruel Stepfather Throws Girls into River

A highly impactful video shared by Dr. Saif Janan (Post Impact: 58%) discusses the case of a stepfather who allegedly threw his wife’s two daughters into a river. The post states that one of the girls survived while the other did not. The video highlights a tragic case of domestic violence that has captured significant user attention on the platform.