Based on Miqrab AI’s analysis of 496 Facebook posts trending in Iraq on April 8, 2025, the digital landscape was dominated by discussions surrounding widespread teacher protests and the government’s subsequent response. Pages highlighted educators’ demands for fair wages and better conditions, with some reporting on the use of force against demonstrators. In reaction, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani’s office announced a package of benefits for teachers, though this was met with skepticism by some commentators. Another significant narrative was the ongoing public debate about the death of engineer Bashir Khalid, fueled by the first media appearance of the wife of the accused, Major General Abbas Al-Tamimi, who provided her controversial account of the events. Other major topics included reactions to a UEFA Champions League match, new economic decisions by the Council of Ministers, and political criticism directed at the Prime Minister.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Teacher Protests and Government’s Response

The most prominent story on Iraqi Facebook involved widespread protests by teachers demanding better rights and fair pay. Pages like Haider Al-Hamdani (Post Impact: 100%) and Markaz Al-Iraqi Al-Khabari (Post Impact: 18%) shared videos and posts under the theme of “insulting the teacher,” with Ahmed Al-Washah (Post Impact: 24%) specifically accusing the Dhi Qar police chief of ordering the suppression of protesters. In response to the unrest, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani acknowledged that the current salary scale is unfair. His official page, Al-Mohandes Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani (Post Impact: 34%), announced that the Council of Ministers hosted the Teachers’ Syndicate and approved a package of measures, including distributing land plots, providing financial support for schools, activating the Teacher Protection Law, and offering low-interest loans. This was echoed by pages like Al-Qasr Al-Hukoumi (Post Impact: 10%). Meanwhile, politicians such as MP Mohammed Nuri Aziz (Post Impact: 12%) and MP Noor Nafea Al-Julihawi (Post Impact: 9%) expressed support for the teachers and called for an emergency session of parliament. However, some, like MP Dr. Haider Al-Salami (Post Impact: 7%), dismissed the government’s response as insufficient, comparing it to a mountain giving birth to a mouse.

2. Arsenal’s Victory Over Real Madrid in Champions League

A UEFA Champions League match garnered significant attention, with several high-engagement pages humorously reporting on Arsenal’s decisive 3-0 victory over Real Madrid. Al-Khawa Al-Nadheefa (Post Impact: 64%) announced the result of the first leg of the quarter-final. The loss for Real Madrid sparked considerable banter online. For instance, Set Ashwaq Um Al-Qanouniya (Post Impact: 27%) joked that after such a result, Real Madrid fans should be included in the government’s recent decision to distribute land plots. Commentary from pages like Hussein – IMADTech (Post Impact: 11%) also expressed surprise at how thoroughly Arsenal dominated the match.

3. Engineer Bashir Khalid’s Death: Officer’s Wife Speaks Out

The case of engineer Bashir Khalid, who died following an incident at the home of Major General Abbas Al-Tamimi, continues to be a major topic of discussion. Pages like Yalla (Post Impact: 24%) and Al-Iraqi Al-Aseel (Post Impact: 17%) widely circulated the first public testimony from the Major General’s wife. In her account, she claims that Bashir arrived at their apartment at 4 a.m., acted erratically, and tried to enter their home under the pretext of being “invited for suhur.” She stated he had “terrifying looks,” removed the doorknob, and entered from the roof, prompting her sons to restrain him without violence until security forces arrived. Pages like Akher Al-Ahdath Al-Iraqiya (Post Impact: 7%) are framing the story by asking their followers whether her account is truthful or an attempt to protect her husband.

4. Council of Ministers Announces New Economic Measures

In addition to its decisions concerning educators, the Iraqi Council of Ministers, chaired by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, approved several economic policies aimed at protecting local industries. Al-Khawa Al-Nadheefa (Post Impact: 28%) reported that the council banned the import of juices and soft drinks for a period of six months. The Prime Minister’s official page, Al-Mohandes Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani (Post Impact: 22%), further detailed that a 20% additional customs duty would be imposed on imported soap for four years to support local production. The decisions are part of a broader government strategy to bolster the national economy and support the private sector.

5. PM Al-Sudani Accused of Deleting Past Posts Supporting Protesters

MP Mustafa Sanad made waves by accusing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani of hypocrisy regarding his stance on protests. In a widely shared post, Mustafa Sanad – Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 35%) claimed that the Prime Minister had deleted his old Facebook posts from 2019, when he was an MP, in which he allegedly defended protesters during the Tishreen demonstrations. Sanad contrasted Al-Sudani’s purported past support for demonstrators with the current government’s handling of the teacher protests. In a follow-up post, Mustafa Sanad – Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 8%) sarcastically imagined what Al-Sudani would have said about the recent events if he were still an MP, writing: “We condemn the assault on the teaching staff in Nasiriyah, and we demand the government be held accountable for its repeated abuses against important segments of the country.”

6. Al-Zubaidi on Protests and Public Sector Salary Gaps

Baqer Jabr Al-Zubaidi, the leader of the Future of Iraq Alliance, weighed in on the recent wave of teacher strikes and broader societal discontent. In a post on his official page Baqer Jabr Al-Zubaidi (Post Impact: 14%), he described the protests as a positive sign of democracy but warned that more demonstrations are on the horizon. He identified the primary cause as the “very large gap between the salaries of employees in different Iraqi ministries,” noting that an employee in the Ministry of Education earns half as much as one with the same degree in the Ministry of Oil. Al-Zubaidi claimed certain ministries have become exclusive economic domains for political parties, creating clear classism within the state. He asserted that the Iraqi people have reached a breaking point and predicted that the parties responsible for these policies will be held accountable by voters in the next elections.

7. Muqtada al-Sadr Follows Up on Committee Activities

Supporters of the Sadrist movement engaged with an update from the office of their leader, Muqtada al-Sadr. A post from The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 13%) reported that al-Sadr had been briefed on the activities of a committee tasked with visiting veteran students and the families of martyrs and the deceased. According to the post, al-Sadr blessed the committee’s work and extended his thanks to its members for their efforts.

8. Intelligence Service Denies Report on Protests

The Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS) issued a statement to deny a report that had been circulating on social media. The statement, shared by the official Iraqi National Intelligence Service (Post Impact: 8%) page and journalist Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 4%), refutes the authenticity of a document attributed to the agency. The fabricated report allegedly warned that the recent teachers’ strike was part of a broader trend of expanding protests influenced by external factors. The INIS clarified that it had no connection to the report, affirmed its commitment to constitutional rights and freedom of expression, and cautioned the public against misinformation designed to undermine state institutions.

9. Iraqi Army Launches Major Military Operation in Rawa

Military operations were a topic of discussion as the Iraqi armed forces announced a new campaign. The official page of the Iraqi Army Chief of Staff (Post Impact: 7%) reported that Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah was supervising the launch of operations to clear the area north of Rawa towards Nineveh island. The operation involves ground troops and air support. Similarly, Maher Mouhi::Sawt Humat Al-Watan (Post Impact: 10%) described it as the “largest military operation” in the area, stating it was intended to destroy terrorist hideouts.

10. Erbil Authorities Ban All Cryptocurrency Trading

In a move impacting the digital finance sector, authorities in Erbil have reportedly banned trading in all forms of electronic and digital currencies. The news was shared by Al-Khawa Al-Nadheefa (Post Impact: 7%), which specified that the ban includes forex companies and the stablecoin USDT. The post noted that the official reason for the ban is that such financial activities are not licensed for operation anywhere in the Kurdistan Region or the rest of Iraq.