Miqrab AI analyzed a total of 391 Facebook posts trending in Iraq on April 2, 2025, revealing a diverse media landscape dominated by domestic politics, security incidents, and public sentiment towards government performance. Key narratives included widespread discussion of an alleged assault on a citizen by a high-ranking police officer, which prompted an official investigation, and significant praise for Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s infrastructure projects and public outreach efforts. Political discourse also centered on former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s calls for high voter turnout in upcoming elections. In sports, the upcoming Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Real Madrid generated considerable excitement, while international news regarding new US tariffs and French-Iranian tensions also captured public attention.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Inquiry into Officer-Citizen Altercation

A major story involves an altercation between a citizen, identified as engineer Bashir Khalid, and a high-ranking police officer which reportedly resulted in the citizen being arrested and falling into a coma, described as “clinically dead.” Pages like Support for the Iraqi Security Forces (Post Impact: 22%) and Thezelma (Post Impact: 5%) shared details of the incident, condemning the abuse of power. In response, the official pages of the Iraqi Ministry of Interior (Post Impact: 9%) and the Media Office of the Minister of Interior (Post Impact: 3%) announced that Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari has ordered the formation of an investigative committee to uncover the facts of the incident. The Iraqi Engineers Syndicate – General Center (Post Impact: 4%) also issued a statement condemning the “criminal act” and “brutal torture,” demanding justice for the engineer.

2. Support for PM Al-Sudani’s Projects and Public Engagement

Numerous pages highlighted popular support for Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, attributing it to tangible progress on the ground. The Government Palace (Post Impact: 22%) argued that public affection for Al-Sudani is not sycophancy but a reaction to “real work on the ground,” listing new hospitals, airports, bridges, and the “Development Road” project as evidence. Videos shared by Iraqis Only – Iraqeen W Bas (Post Impact: 16%) and Baghdad (Post Impact: 6%) showed a citizen giving the Prime Minister an “Eidiya” (a holiday gift of money) during a public tour, portraying a positive and informal relationship. Another video from Iraqis Only – Iraqeen W Bas (Post Impact: 10%) showed Al-Sudani interacting with an elderly man who had been seeking land for his martyr grandson’s family for nine years, with the page reporting the Prime Minister granted him a housing unit on the spot.

3. Barcelona vs. Real Madrid in Copa del Rey Final

Sports pages widely covered Barcelona’s victory over Atlético Madrid, securing their place in the Copa del Rey final against their rivals, Real Madrid. The Clean Brotherhood (Post Impact: 41%) and Bab Al-Toob (Post Impact: 3%) announced the final result, stating that Barcelona won 5-4 on aggregate, setting up a highly anticipated final. The news generated excitement among fans, with pages like Mohammed Nasser Khalif (Post Impact: 17%) sharing humorous videos depicting the current mood and anticipation of Real Madrid fans ahead of the showdown.

4. Journalist Haider al-Hamdani Threatens Media Retirement

Journalist Haider al-Hamdani generated significant buzz with two high-impact videos discussing his potential retirement from media. In one video, Haider Al-Hamdani (Post Impact: 70%) announced he would retire permanently, but with an unspecified condition. In a follow-up post, Haider Al-Hamdani (Post Impact: 56%) claimed he was being targeted by the government, stating, “The authorities cannot tolerate my voice.” He alleged that “electronic armies,” incited by the government, were coordinating with Facebook to have his page blocked. The posts frame his potential exit as a result of political pressure and an attempt to silence his critical voice.

5. Nouri al-Maliki Urges Voter Participation

Former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, made a public appeal for Iraqis to participate in the upcoming elections. According to We Are All Iraq and for Iraq (Post Impact: 14%), Maliki emphasized that elections are the only way to “change power peacefully and smoothly” and warned that non-participation would mean the “continuation of corruption and the corrupt.” Breaking News (Post Impact: 8%) framed his comments as a response to Muqtada al-Sadr’s election boycott, quoting Maliki as saying that even those who reject the political process have no choice but to use the ballot box for change.

6. Criticism of Privileges for Iraqi Footballers

A narrative critical of the financial rewards and privileges granted to Iraqi football players gained traction. The page Thezelma (Post Impact: 34%) drew a sharp contrast between international star Ronaldinho, who despite winning numerous titles is reportedly broke, and Iraqi players like Ahmed Radhi and Younis Mahmoud. The post claims Radhi’s family received “billions from the state” and land plots for his one World Cup goal, while Mahmoud “took over the federation” for one Asian Cup goal. Similarly, pages like Ammar Al-Halfi (Post Impact: 5%) alleged that Radhi’s daughter, who has never been to Iraq, receives a salary from the Council of Representatives and was given land. This sentiment reflects a public perception of unfairness and excessive government benefits for national athletes.

7. PM Al-Sudani Inspects Al-Rashid Street Restoration

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s visit to inspect the restoration of the historic Al-Rashid Street in Baghdad was a key topic. The Prime Minister’s official page, Engineer Mohamed Shia Alsudani (Post Impact: 14%), reported on the third phase of the “Downtown Baghdad” project, noting his visit to landmarks like the “Hassan Ajami” cafe. The post emphasized that the project aims to revive the street’s cultural and social memory after years of neglect. Pages like The Government Palace (Post Impact: 4%) shared videos of the progress, predicting the street will become “the jewel of Baghdad’s streets.” Adding to this, Baghdad Projects (Post Impact: 4%) celebrated the approval to install a tram line, which it called a “first of its kind in Iraq,” to make the street pedestrian-friendly.

8. Protests Lead to Halt of “Qaninty” Gas App

The implementation of a new mobile application, “Qaninty” (My Cylinder), for purchasing cooking gas cylinders sparked controversy and protests. The page Diyala TV (Post Impact: 6%) announced that citizens would soon have to reserve gas cylinders through the app. However, following protests, particularly from gas agents in Mosul, the policy was reversed. Bab Al-Toob (Post Impact: 5%) reported that the Ministry of Oil announced a return to the previous distribution method in Nineveh after agents refused to work with the app. Another post from Diyala TV (Post Impact: 6%) confirmed the decision was being applied in Diyala as well.

9. France Warns Iran of Military Confrontation

Tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program were a topic of discussion. The page The Clean Brotherhood (Post Impact: 19%) reported that France has warned of a potential military confrontation with Iran if nuclear negotiations fail. This highlights the increasing international pressure on Tehran. In a related post, Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 2%) shared a post simply stating, “Dismantle the nuclear program… or war,” reflecting the stark choices facing Iran.

10. Trump Announces New Tariffs Affecting Iraq

The announcement by former US President Donald Trump of new tariffs on imports from countries around the world, including Iraq, was reported by several pages. Baghdad (Post Impact: 5%) detailed the proposed tariffs, stating that imports from Iraq would face a 39% tariff. The page Iraqi Economists (Post Impact: 2%) explained that the move threatens to escalate global trade tensions, with experts warning of rising prices and a potential economic recession. The page clarified that the US tariffs would be a “discounted reciprocal” response to the tariffs other countries, including Iraq, levy on American goods.