Based on an analysis of 464 Facebook posts trending on March 27, 2025, Miqrab AI identified several key narratives dominating online discussions in Iraq. The most prominent theme was the rising tension between Iraq and Jordan, fueled by reports of anti-Iraqi chants at a football match and a vigorous debate over Iraq’s heavily discounted oil sales to the kingdom. In domestic politics, a major development was Muqtada al-Sadr’s declaration that his movement will boycott upcoming elections, citing pervasive corruption. Other significant conversations revolved around an incident of police misconduct in Kirkuk that led to the officers’ arrest, the sacking of the national football team’s coach, and a viral human-interest story exposing the severe poverty of an elderly woman.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Tensions With Jordan Over Oil Subsidies and Insults

A wave of anger and debate erupted over Iraq’s relationship with Jordan, focusing on both economic and social issues. MP Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 88%) detailed that Iraq exports 15,000 barrels of oil daily to Jordan at a $16 discount, amounting to a subsidy of about $2.25 million per month. This information fueled outrage on pages like that of journalist Salem Mashkour (Post Impact: 82%), who questioned the Iraqi government’s silence on alleged anti-Iraqi chants from Jordanian fans, asking, “why does the Iraqi government remain silent about the degradation of Iraqi dignity in a country whose economy Iraq significantly fuels?” The page Tech 4 Peace (Post Impact: 49%) calculated the total annual value of the discount at over $87 million. In response to the controversy, Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 26%) reported that the Jordanian Football Association issued a statement claiming the video of the chants was “fabricated” and reminded Iraq of Jordan’s role in lifting the football ban. However, Steven Nabil noted that Tech 4 Peace had confirmed the video’s authenticity.

2. Muqtada al-Sadr Announces Boycott of Upcoming Elections

Prominent cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced his movement’s withdrawal from the upcoming elections, a decision that reverberated across Iraqi political pages. The official page for The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 45%) released his response to a question on the matter. Pages like Hussam Alhaj (Post Impact: 15%) and Mohammad Nasser Khalif (Post Impact: 13%) quoted Sadr’s justification for the boycott, stating he would not participate as long as corruption persists and that “Iraq is living its last breaths.” The decision was framed as a rejection of a political process that serves only personal interests. Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani was quoted by Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 17%) as saying that the return of the Sadrist movement to the political process is a “necessity.”

3. Kirkuk Police Officers Arrested After Viral Video

A video showing traffic police officers throwing stones at a truck driver in Kirkuk sparked public condemnation and a swift official response. The page Baghdad (Post Impact: 37%) shared the clip from the Jayman checkpoint on the Kirkuk-Sulaymaniyah road, stating that regardless of the violation, such behavior was unacceptable. The story was quickly followed by an official announcement from the Iraqi Ministry of Interior (Post Impact: 37%). Citing directives from the Undersecretary for Police Affairs, the Kirkuk Police Command confirmed it had taken legal action, ordering the arrest of the traffic detachment commander and all officers present at the checkpoint during the incident. Support for Iraqi Security Forces (Post Impact: 8%) also reported on the detention of the officers.

4. National Football Coach Jesús Casas Sacked

The Iraqi Football Association officially terminated its contract with national team coach Jesús Casas, a move widely covered on sports and news pages. Al-Khawa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 32%) and Baghdad (Post Impact: 4%) both announced the decision, confirming that the association would pay his termination clause. Public sentiment appeared to be against the coach, as reflected in a post by Ahmad Mulla Talal (Post Impact: 35%), who proposed that every Iraqi who loves the national team should donate 1,000 dinars to pay the clause and “get rid of him.” The page Ya’ni Tafaddal (Post Impact: 8%) added context to the frustration by noting that under Casas, Iraq suffered its first-ever loss to Palestine in their football history.

5. Viral Video Shows Elderly Woman’s Dire Poverty

A deeply moving human-interest story captured significant attention after a video highlighted the shocking living conditions of an elderly woman. The post from Aziz Nasser (Post Impact: 90%) showed a woman and a young man living in what was described as an “indescribable” situation, with the entrance to their home measuring only fifty centimeters wide. The short text accompanying the video expressed sorrow for their plight, stating, “Fifty centimeters is the entrance to her home 💔🇮🇶.” This single post generated very high engagement, resonating widely with viewers and drawing attention to issues of extreme poverty and inadequate housing in the country.

6. Starlink Satellite Debris Seen Over Region

A celestial event caught the attention of Iraqis when a falling satellite was observed across the region. The page Telescope Iraq (Post Impact: 63%) reported that a Starlink satellite, identified as starlnk 5314, was seen breaking up over Saudi Arabia. The debris was reportedly visible across large areas including Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina. The page also noted that some followers claimed to have seen it from the Samawah desert in Iraq. The post reassured viewers that the satellite had mostly disintegrated in the Earth’s atmosphere and that only small, non-hazardous debris would have reached the ground.

7. PM Sudani Discusses Governance and Sovereignty

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani’s recent media appearances were a topic of discussion, with pages highlighting his statements on international relations and domestic policy. Shabakat Laysh.? (Post Impact: 29%) shared a clip where Sudani dismissed the idea of being under international pressure, stating, “I’ve been here for two and a half years and I haven’t seen it!” Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 10%) summarized key points from an interview, where the Prime Minister assured that salaries were secure and affirmed that Iraq had rejected both internal and external pressures to get involved in the conflict in Syria. This focus on sovereignty was also linked to economic policy, with Man Baghdad+ (Post Impact: 4%) quoting Sudani on ending the $9 billion annual loss from flaring gas.

8. Security Forces Receive Eid Al-Fitr Pardons

In observance of the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holiday, leaders of Iraq’s security institutions announced pardons and the cancellation of disciplinary penalties for their personnel. The Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (ICTS) (Post Impact: 27%) announced that its head, Lieutenant General Karim Al-Tamimi, had canceled all disciplinary sanctions for personnel in all special operations units. Similarly, Minister of Interior Abdul Amir Al-Shammari issued a special pardon for officers, affiliates, and employees. This was reported by several pages, including Iraqeen W Bas (Post Impact: 8%) and the official page of the Media Office of the Minister of Interior (Post Impact: 7%), which stated the move was intended to give personnel a chance to “correct their mistakes” in the spirit of the holy month.

9. FC Barcelona Victory Cheers Up Iraqi Fans

FC Barcelona’s win in La Liga provided a source of happiness for Iraqi football fans, who shared news of the victory. Al-Khawa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 26%) reported that Barcelona strengthened its lead in the Spanish league by defeating Osasuna 3-0 in a postponed match. The sentiment was echoed by Sit Ashwaq Um Al-Qanuniyya (Post Impact: 25%), which posted a celebratory message stating, “Iraq makes you sad, but Barcelona makes you happy. The lead is Catalonian ❤️💙.” The posts reflect how international football serves as a popular escape and source of joy for many in the country.

10. Pages Celebrate Iraq’s Ancient Babylonian Heritage

There was a notable trend of posts expressing pride in Iraq’s ancient history, particularly its Babylonian heritage. The page Babel Bawabit Al-Ilaha (Post Impact: 26%) shared a powerful message declaring, “I am Iraq, my age is more than 7000 years of glory, civilization, and achievements… I am the land of the two rivers.. the great Iraq.” The same page also shared a post detailing the historical greatness of the city of Babylon, quoting historical figures who marveled at its scale and beauty, including Nebuchadnezzar II and Alexander the Great, who was quoted as saying, “He who has not seen Babylon has seen nothing in his life.” These posts celebrated Iraq’s role as a cradle of civilization, law, and culture.