Based on an analysis of 475 Facebook posts trending on March 24, 2025, Miqrab AI identified several key narratives circulating in Iraq. The most prominent story was the sudden death of Lieutenant General Kazem Bohan, former Director of Civil Defense, which garnered widespread condolences from officials and the public. Significant engagement was also driven by a national football match against Palestine, with pages hosting prediction contests. Political discourse focused on alleged US directives to the Iraqi government concerning the restructuring of the Popular Mobilization Forces and curbing Iranian influence. Other major topics included public debate over new government fees imposed on social media content creators and the historic re-election of Ahlam al-Lami as the head of the Iraqi Bar Association.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Widespread Mourning for Lt. General Kazem Bohan

Facebook pages widely reported the death of Lieutenant General Kazem Bohan, the former Director of Civil Defense and a technical advisor to the Minister of Interior. According to Al-Khawa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 35%) and Khabar Ajeal (Post Impact: 15%), he passed away from a heart attack during an Iftar dinner at the Baghdad Hotel, which was attended by the Minister of Interior. Official condolences were issued by both the Iraqi Ministry of Interior (Post Impact: 14%) and the Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister (Post Impact: 14%). The statements praised Bohan as one of the “finest, most honest, and brave officers” who dedicated his life to serving Iraq. Other pages like Yalla (Post Impact: 6%) shared videos of him interacting with protestors in 2019, highlighting his respected status among the public.

2. Excitement Builds for Iraq vs. Palestine Football Match

Anticipation for the national football team’s match against Palestine drove significant engagement, led by interactive posts and contests. The page Set Ashwaq Umm al-Qanouniya (Post Impact: 100%) launched a highly popular competition, inviting followers to predict the match result to win valuable coupons. This promotional activity generated massive interaction, indicating strong public support and excitement for the national team. Similarly, Diyala TV (Post Impact: 6%) also engaged its audience by asking them to predict the outcome of the upcoming game.

3. US Pressure to Restructure PMF & Curb Iranian Influence

A significant political narrative emerged regarding alleged directives from Washington to the Iraqi government. Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 14%) reported that the Iraqi parliament would begin discussions to formally dissolve armed factions and restructure the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), or Hashd al-Shaabi. The post claims the Prime Minister withdrew the “PMF Service and Retirement Law” and replaced it with a “PMF Restructuring Law.” This action is allegedly based on US instructions to stop dollar smuggling to Iran and prevent Iraq from being a haven for groups like Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Hamas. In a related post, Al-Khawa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 34%) shared a statement from the US State Department urging the Iraqi government to control all armed factions within its territory and ensure its decisions are not made in Iran.

4. New Fees on Social Media Content Creators Spark Debate

The Iraqi Communications and Media Commission’s decision to impose annual fees on social media content creators became a major topic of discussion. Erbil Events (Post Impact: 11%) detailed the new fee structure, which is based on the number of followers, ranging from 250,000 IQD for those with 100,000 followers to 1,000,000 IQD for accounts with over 5 million followers. The news prompted reactions from influencers, such as Set Ashwaq Umm al-Qanouniya (Post Impact: 39%), who has 2.5 million followers and questioned how much she would have to pay. Content creator Shojaa Faris (Post Impact: 7%) humorously noted that he would start blocking followers to stay under the 100,000 threshold to avoid the tax.

5. Ahlam al-Lami Re-elected as Head of Iraqi Bar Association

The re-election of Ahlam al-Lami as the head of the Iraqi Bar Association was celebrated across several pages. Baghdad (Post Impact: 16%) and Muna Sami (Post Impact: 14%) both highlighted the historic nature of her position, noting that she is the first woman to lead the syndicate since its establishment in 1933. Muna Sami described her victory as not just a personal achievement but as “proof of the effective role of Iraqi women in leading institutions and decision-making.” The posts frame her win as a significant step for women’s leadership in Iraq.

6. Tributes to Security Forces for Ramadan Sacrifices

A recurring theme of appreciation for Iraqi security forces was prominent during the holy month of Ramadan. Pages like Tele Iraq (Post Impact: 21%) and Tele Iraq Media (Post Impact: 19%) shared posts honoring the sacrifices of security personnel. The pages emphasized that these “protectors of Iraq” spend the holy nights away from their families to ensure the safety of the nation. They invited their followers to share stories of individuals who have made similar sacrifices, aiming to collectively honor their dedication and service.

7. Anbar Awakening Leader Accuses Official of Insurgency

A controversial statement made on television gained significant traction. The page Khabar Ajeal (Post Impact: 52%) reported that Jabar Ajaj, a leader in the Anbar Awakening, made serious accusations against Ahmed al-Shar’a during an appearance on Zagros TV. Ajaj claimed that al-Shar’a “was fighting against the army and police in Anbar,” directly contradicting the narrative that he was fighting against American forces. This single post generated high engagement, indicating a strong reaction to the allegations against a public figure.

8. Parliament Recommends Reinstating Student “Attempts” System

There was positive news for students as multiple pages reported on a decision by the Iraqi Parliament. Adnan Al-Zurfi (Post Impact: 7%) and MP Mohammed Nuri Aziz (Post Impact: 4%) announced that the Council of Representatives voted to recommend that the Ministry of Education reinstate the “Mahawalat” (attempts) system for 6th-grade preparatory students. This system allows students who fail a limited number of subjects to retake exams, and its potential return was a topic of interest shared by pages like Diyala TV (Post Impact: 5%).

9. Iran and Iraq in Dispute Over Smuggled Oil Allegations

Tensions between Baghdad and Tehran were highlighted in posts discussing a dispute over oil smuggling. Al-Adhamiya News (Post Impact: 9%) and Ahmed AlHamdani (Post Impact: 7%) reported that the Iranian Ministry of Oil issued a sharp response to comments made by the Iraqi Oil Minister. The Iraqi minister had revealed that the US Navy seized Iranian oil tankers operating with forged Iraqi documents. Iran’s ministry reportedly responded with a strong denial, labeling the claims as “evil allegations.”

10. Muqtada al-Sadr’s Office Highlights Ramadan Activities

The office of Muqtada al-Sadr was active on Facebook, sharing details of his engagement with followers and charitable activities during Ramadan. The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 26%) published responses from al-Sadr to questions from his followers. The same page also promoted religious activities, such as observing Laylat al-Qadr at the Fatima al-Zahra Mosque in Najaf, and shared videos of the Al-Sadr host providing Iftar meals to families in Lebanon, stating this initiative was a directive from al-Sadr himself and would continue throughout Ramadan.