Miqrab AI’s analysis of 495 trending Facebook posts in Iraq on March 30, 2025, reveals a strong focus on the Eid al-Fitr holiday, with widespread greetings from religious and political figures dominating the conversation. However, this festive theme was accompanied by significant controversy surrounding the Sunni Waqf’s decision to close mosques for Eid prayers, prompting public discontent and street prayers in several cities. Another major narrative involved disciplinary actions within the security forces, as the Minister of Interior punished personnel for misconduct, sparking a broader discussion about the public’s interaction with and perception of law enforcement. Other key topics included the sighting of the new moon, political commentary from figures like Muqtada al-Sadr, sports news, and reports on local development and corruption.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Interior Minister Disciplines Security Personnel

A story about disciplinary action taken by the Minister of Interior, Abdul Amir al-Shammari, garnered high engagement. According to Iraqeen W Bas – Iraqis Only (Post Impact: 58%), the minister punished two personnel who were filmed sleeping while on duty by transferring them to the Iraqi border. The officers who filmed the incident were also reportedly punished with the same transfer. In a related post, Support for Iraqi Security Forces (Post Impact: 24%) highlighted a circulating video and lamented what it described as a new trend of filming security personnel to provoke them and make them appear as the aggressors. The page called for an end to these actions, stating they were diminishing the prestige of the security forces.

2. Widespread Eid al-Fitr Greetings from Public Figures

Numerous public figures, politicians, and media personalities shared greetings for Eid al-Fitr, marking a dominant theme across Iraqi Facebook. Pages like Muslih Muhammad al-Iraqi (Post Impact: 100%), Muhammad Nasser Khalif (Post Impact: 25%), and actor Aziz Nasser (Post Impact: 23%) wished their followers a blessed holiday filled with peace and health. Officials including Team Staff Lieutenant General Nasser Al-Ghannam (Post Impact: 10%) and politician Dr. Hanan Al-Fatlawi (Post Impact: 7%) also extended their congratulations, asking God to accept their prayers and wishing for prosperity for Iraq and its people.

3. Sunni Waqf’s Eid Prayer Decision Sparks Controversy

A significant controversy arose from the decision by the Sunni Endowment (Waqf) to prevent Eid al-Fitr prayers in mosques, leading many worshippers to pray in public spaces instead. The page Iraqeen W Bas – Iraqis Only (Post Impact: 15%) reported that thousands of Iraqis in Mosul, Al-Adhamiyah, and Fallujah held prayers in streets and public parks. Similarly, Sit Ashwaq um al-Qanounia (Post Impact: 23%) shared a video of people in Al-Adhamiyah praying in the street after mosques were closed. Commentator Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 15%) sarcastically noted that the Sunni Waqf had closed comments on its Eid announcement post, likely due to “fear of the site and servers collapsing due to the downpour of messages of love and affection from the people for the Waqf.”

4. Sighting of Shawwal Crescent Moon Marks Start of Eid

Multiple pages shared images and videos of the new crescent moon (hilal) for the month of Shawwal, confirming the end of Ramadan and the start of Eid al-Fitr. Al-Khwa Al-Nazifa (Post Impact: 37%) posted a video showing the crescent in the Iraqi sky. The page Telescope Iraq (Post Impact: 13%) shared what it called the “first image of the Shawwal crescent” from Al-Siba, Basra, noting its age was 28.5 hours with 2% illumination. Another post from the same page (Post Impact: 12%) provided a visual simulation of how the crescent would appear at sunset, adding to the public’s anticipation for the holiday.

5. Muqtada al-Sadr Delivers Eid Message and Q&A

Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr was a prominent voice during the holiday, with his official office page sharing his activities and messages. The Special Office of Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 27%) shared his “Eid al-Fitr Mubarak” message, which he originally published on the social media platform “X.” A subsequent post from the same page (Post Impact: 9%) published a list of questions that were answered by al-Sadr on the first night of Shawwal. This indicates his continued engagement with his followers on religious and social matters during the holiday period.

6. Barcelona Secures Decisive 4-1 Victory Over Girona

Football news, specifically Barcelona’s victory in La Liga, trended on social media amid the holiday celebrations. Al-Khwa Al-Nazifa (Post Impact: 13%) reported that Barcelona defeated Girona with four goals to one, a result that strengthened their position at the top of the league table. Similarly, Sit Ashwaq um al-Qanounia (Post Impact: 10%) humorously linked the win to Eid celebrations, stating, “The head of the Catalonian Waqf, Mr. Flick, wanted to greet you and tell you these four are an Eid gift, and Happy Eid.”

7. Reports of “Largest Casino in Iraq” Opening in Mosul

Reports circulated about the opening of a major new entertainment venue in Mosul. Both Bab Al-Toob (Post Impact: 13%) and Mosul (Post Impact: 9%) shared videos with the caption stating that a figure referred to as “Abu Janna” has opened the largest casino in Iraq in the city of Mosul. The posts presented this as a significant and major new development for the city, which has been undergoing reconstruction and revitalization efforts.

8. Baghdad’s Turkish Restaurant to Become a Medical Center

Plans to redevelop the iconic, long-abandoned Turkish Restaurant building in Baghdad were shared on social media. The page Al-Qasr Al-Hukoumi (Post Impact: 10%) announced that the building will be converted into a model medical center. Adding further detail, Baghdad Projects (Post Impact: 3%) reported that the new design is inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and will include a specialized hospital, terraced gardens, a shopping center, and an observation deck. The page also noted that the project will be managed by a specialized Italian company with experience in medical services.

9. Tributes to Security Forces’ Sacrifices on Eid

Amid the Eid festivities, attention was drawn to the sacrifices made by members of the Iraqi security forces who remain on duty during the holidays. The pages Tele Iraq – Tele Iraq Media (Post Impact: 9%) and Tele Iraq – Tele Iraq (Post Impact: 8%) both posed the question, “How do the sacrifices made by our security forces during Eid affect their families and the communities they protect?” This prompted reflection and discussion on the role and commitment of military and police personnel who work to maintain security during national celebrations.

10. Nepotism Allegations Target Dhi Qar Police Chief

Allegations of corruption and nepotism were directed at the Dhi Qar Police Commander in a post that included supporting documents. The page Ahmad Al-Washah (Post Impact: 10%) claimed that the commander appointed 11 of his family members, all residents of Najaf province, to positions that were part of the allocation for the people of Dhi Qar province. The post explicitly addressed the Supreme Judicial Council, the Federal Commission of Integrity, and the Parliamentary Integrity Committee, calling for an investigation into the matter.