Based on an analysis of 453 X / Twitter posts trending on April 6, 2025, Miqrab AI has identified several key narratives dominating online conversations in Iraq. The most prominent story involves widespread outrage over a video allegedly showing the torture of an engineer in state custody, sparking calls for accountability and a parliamentary investigation. Simultaneously, significant attention is focused on escalating regional tensions, with multiple reports of Iran threatening Iraq and other neighboring countries should they cooperate with a potential US-led attack. Domestically, a nationwide teachers’ strike over low salaries has gained traction, drawing both support from politicians and criticism over the quality of education. Other notable themes include reports of sectarian violence in prisons, a security crackdown on social media content creators, and debates surrounding the loyalties of Iraqi political factions amidst the external pressures.

Today’s Top 10 X (Twitter) Trends in Iraq:

1. Torture of Engineer Bashir Khalid in Prison

A video circulating on X / Twitter has sparked significant outrage by allegedly showing engineer Bashir Khalid being tortured inside a prison. The account Mustafa al-Dulaymi (Post Impact: 100%), which posted the video, claims the man torturing him with a piece of iron is not an employee of the Ministry of Interior. Other users expressed deep distrust in the official narrative. Hassan Basketball – HASSAN AL HAMMADI (Post Impact: 15%) described the official story as an “Indian film” and alleged that authorities arranged for inmates to kill him. Similarly, Yasser Eljuboori (Post Impact: 9%) noted that the video appears to show people who are “not police” attacking him inside the station. In response to the public outcry, the Iraqi Parliament has formed an investigative committee, a move credited by Hussam Alhaj (Post Impact: 6%) to the efforts of MP Hussein Arab, who stated that he would not be lenient with the perpetrators.

2. Nationwide Teachers’ Strike Over Salaries

A major nationwide strike by teachers demanding adjustments to the salary scale has become a dominant topic of conversation. Political commentator Faiq Al-Sheikh Ali (Post Impact: 21%) expressed his support for the strike, calling the salary system in Iraq “stupid” and unjust for paying new teachers more than experienced ones. Political leader Ammar Al-Hakim (Post Impact: 7%) also voiced solidarity, urging the Council of Ministers to listen to their “legitimate demands.” However, the strike also drew criticism; in another post, Faiq Al-Sheikh Ali (Post Impact: 42%) and Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 10%) both mocked a misspelling on a protest sign, questioning the quality of education. An account named Hayder (Post Impact: 5%) highlighted the economic challenge, noting the proposed salary scale would add a “fantastic” 11 trillion dinars to the budget amid falling oil prices.

3. Iran Threatens Iraq Amid Regional Tensions

Fears of Iraq being dragged into a regional conflict are evident as users share reports of Iranian threats against its neighbors. According to Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 36%), Iran is threatening to bomb five countries, including Iraq, if the US launches an attack on its territory. Similarly, Rafid Jaboori (Post Impact: 8%) shared a video about Iran declaring a state of alert and threatening Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Turkey. Multiple accounts, including Hayder (Post Impact: 6%) and Omar Abdulsattar Mahmoud (Post Impact: 4%), cited a Reuters report stating that Iran warned these countries that any support for a US strike, including the use of their airspace, “will be considered a hostile act and will have severe consequences.”

4. Sectarian Violence in Nasiriyah Prison

Reports of targeted sectarian violence inside Nasiriyah’s central prison, also known as Al-Hout, have emerged on X / Twitter. The account Hiba Alnnayib (Post Impact: 11%) reported that “sectarian militias” attacked Sunni inmates with knives and blades in collusion with the prison administration, resulting in 12 injuries, one of them critical. Expanding on these allegations, Noor – Um Omar (Post Impact: 6%) claimed militias from Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq and the Popular Mobilization Forces attacked Sunni prisoners twice, first with knives, killing at least fifteen, and later with firearms, prompting inmates to send out secret distress calls.

5. Arrest of Content Creators in Mosul

A security campaign in Mosul targeting social media content creators for allegedly producing “indecent content” has led to several arrests and public debate. The account Hayder (Post Impact: 7%) reported the arrest of a group of creators including “Abu Janna,” “Mina Mina,” and “Hamza Habati.” Several users came to their defense. Ahmed Al-Ziyadi (Post Impact: 3%) defended Abu Janna, stating he creates positive content and encourages youth, questioning the basis for his arrest. Likewise, Yasser Eljuboori (Post Impact: 3%) asked the Ministry of Interior to clarify what was considered “indecent” about Abu Janna’s content. In response to the campaign, another Mosul-based creator named “Abbouri” announced he was joining the Sadrist movement, as reported by Hayder (Post Impact: 8%).

6. Syrian Appeal for Return of Iraqi Visitors

A video showing Syrians expressing their economic hardship and appealing for the return of Iraqi visitors is being shared online. Hayder (Post Impact: 15%) posted the video, in which Syrians are quoted as saying to Iraqis, “As soon as you stopped coming, our streets died, we went hungry, and everyone was affected.” Commenting on the situation, Issam Hussein (Post Impact: 4%) explained the importance of Iraqi tourists to the Syrian economy but noted that their return is difficult due to security fears and the “sectarian and vengeful” actions of the Syrian regime, which endangers tourists based on their religious identity.

7. Iran’s Leader’s Stance on War with the US

Accounts are sharing reports on the stance of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, regarding a potential military confrontation with the United States. Dr. Hussein Al-Safi (Post Impact: 13%) shared a video clip of Khamenei stating, “There will be no war, we will not negotiate with America.” However, other accounts shared conflicting information suggesting military readiness. Both Omar Abdulsattar Mahmoud (Post Impact: 7%) and Dr. Zaid Abdulwahab Al-Adhami (Post Impact: 2%) cited Reuters, reporting that Khamenei had ordered the Iranian armed forces to enter a state of “maximum readiness” in anticipation of war.

8. Criticism of Pro-Iran Factions’ Loyalties

A narrative critical of the perceived divided loyalties of pro-Iran factions in Iraq is trending, questioning their national allegiance. Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 8%) posted a long list of countries, historical periods, and political groups that he claims pro-Iran loyalists (“Walai’yun”) hate, concluding that they only love Iran, which represents 1% of the world. In a similar vein, Dhafer Al-Ani (Post Impact: 3%) accused these same groups of hypocrisy, pointing out that they “were the first to encourage America to strike and occupy Iraq” but are now declaring that Iraq will be the “first bulwark to defend” Iran against the US, calling it “treason in its ugliest forms.”

9. Allegations of Rape by Soldiers at Al-Hawl Camp

Multiple accounts are sharing a story with identical text and video that makes serious allegations against Kurdish soldiers at the Al-Hawl camp in Syria. Both Wasan Al-Shaikhli (Post Impact: 8%) and Abu Drandash Al-Askari (Post Impact: 4%) posted that when Kurdish soldiers entered the camp, which formerly housed ISIS affiliates, “the ugliest forms of injustice were revealed.” The posts allege that Yazidi girls who had been enslaved by ISIS, some of them children, were then brutally raped by the soldiers, and ask, “Is there a more heinous crime that can be committed against humanity?!”

10. Reports of Military Preparations for Strike on Iran

Alongside Iran’s threats, users are sharing detailed intelligence-style reports about US and Israeli military preparations for a potential strike on Iran. David Yassin (Post Impact: 10%) posted about heavy US military cargo flights (C-5M Super Galaxy) delivering advanced air defense systems like the MIM-104F PAC-3 to Israel, suggesting this is not a repositioning but a “preparation of a theater of operations fortified against missile saturation.” Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 5%) outlined two scenarios: negotiations that would halt Iran’s nuclear program or a military strike that would destroy it. Furthermore, Omar Abdulsattar Mahmoud (Post Impact: 4%) cited the Daily Express, reporting that sources close to the Trump administration vowed “Iran will be gone by September” if it does not agree to a nuclear deal.