Miqrab AI’s analysis of 485 trending Facebook posts in Iraq on April 16, 2025, reveals a diverse landscape of public conversation. The dominant themes include intense reactions to international football, specifically Arsenal’s victory over Real Madrid, and significant political activity surrounding Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, including his participation in the Sulaymaniyah Forum and outreach to the Yazidi community. Other key narratives include diplomatic tensions between Iraq and Lebanon, the enduring political influence of Muqtada al-Sadr, economic discontent among farmers, and cultural celebrations for the Yazidi New Year.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Arsenal Eliminates Real Madrid from Champions League

The biggest story dominating Iraqi Facebook feeds is Arsenal’s decisive victory over Real Madrid, eliminating them from the Champions League with a 5-1 aggregate score. Pages like Al-Khawa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 32%) reported the result directly, highlighting Arsenal’s qualification for the semi-finals. Other pages adopted a more mocking tone towards Real Madrid and their fans. Set Ashwaq Um Al-Qanuniyah (Post Impact: 16%) posted a video with the caption “Hard luck, my rival,” while Baghdadi Eyes (Post Impact: 4%) and Iraqeen W Bas (Post Impact: 3%) shared content depicting the sadness of Real Madrid supporters, with one stating, “Real’s situation is from bad to worse!” The widespread coverage indicates a highly engaged football fanbase reacting strongly to the major European tournament upset.

2. PM Al Sudani Affirms Re-election Bid at Sulaymaniyah Forum

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s political activities were a major topic, led by his participation in the Sulaymaniyah Forum. His official page, Engineer Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani (Post Impact: 18%), shared a video from the event where he clearly stated his intention to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections. He justified this by emphasizing the need to “continue the path of development and reconstruction and to continue the reform project that we started about two and a half years ago.” The Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister (Post Impact: 2%) and Al Hadath Iraq (Post Impact: 2%) also covered his participation, sharing videos of his dialogue sessions and his convoy moving through the city, reinforcing the significance of his presence and political announcements at the high-profile event.

3. Government Supports Yazidi Community on Their New Year

The celebration of the Yazidi New Year generated significant positive engagement, with a focus on government support for the community. Prime Minister Engineer Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani (Post Impact: 12%) issued a congratulatory statement, highlighting his government’s work to rectify past injustices, including issuing land ownership deeds and rebuilding their areas. The Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister (Post Impact: 7%) echoed this, issuing a statement from the government spokesperson detailing the project to grant property titles to Yazidis in Sinjar for the first time. News pages like Al-Khawa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 5%) described the celebratory traditions, such as decorating homes with flowers and lighting 365 candles.

4. Iraq Summons Lebanese Ambassador Over PMF Comments

A diplomatic dispute between Iraq and Lebanon captured attention after the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Lebanese ambassador. According to Al-Khawa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 9%), the summons was a protest against remarks made by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun regarding the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd). The ministry’s statement emphasized that the Hashd is an integral part of the Iraqi security system and criticized the attempt to involve Iraq in Lebanon’s internal crises as “unsuccessful.” Analyst Salem Mashkour (Post Impact: 3%) commented that the Lebanese president’s words were not a slip of the tongue but a “calculated statement to create conditions for a break between Iraq and Lebanon to cut off ‘communication’,” suggesting it was a condition set by financial donors.

5. Muqtada al-Sadr Meets Officials, Oversees Projects

The continued political influence of Muqtada al-Sadr was highlighted in several posts. The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 6%) reported that he was briefed on the activities and achievements of the “Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous” organization. In a separate event showing his sway over state affairs, the page Support for the Iraqi Security Forces (Post Impact: 6%) posted a picture of the Undersecretary of the Interior, Dr. Hussein Al-Awadi, stating he was “in the hospitality of Mr. Sadr.” These posts collectively portray Sadr as a key power broker who remains deeply involved in both his own organization’s projects and high-level government matters.

6. Farmer’s Despair Over Wheat Prices Goes Viral

A video showing the distress of an Iraqi farmer over the government’s set price for wheat circulated widely, sparking conversations about the economic struggles in the agricultural sector. The page Mohammed Nasser Khalif Mohammed Nasser Khalif (Post Impact: 9%) shared the clip of the farmer’s breakdown with the caption, “The collapse of a farmer because of the government’s wheat pricing. I swear to God Almighty, injustice does not last.” Similarly, Ammar Al-Halfi (Post Impact: 5%) posted a clip of the emotional scene, expressing sympathy and frustration with the caption “God help you, Iraq.” This viral content highlights public discontent with economic policies perceived as harmful to local farmers.

7. Controversy Surrounding Syrian Leader’s Potential Visit

Prime Minister Al Sudani’s invitation to Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) to attend a summit in Baghdad has sparked controversy. While the page The Genuine Iraqi (Post Impact: 5%) reported on the invitation, political figure Mustafa Sanad shared a dissenting view. The page Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 10%) posted a strong statement from politician Al-Muraiani directed at al-Sharaa, declaring, “Al-Muraiani to Al-Joulani, you are not welcome in Baghdad.” This contrast illustrates a significant political disagreement over Iraqi foreign policy and engagement with controversial regional figures.

8. Commemoration of Imam Musa al-Kadhim

A highly engaging post focused on the religious commemoration of Imam Musa ibn Ja’far al-Kadhim. The page Muslih Muhammad Al-Iraqi (Post Impact: 100%) shared a video tribute to the Imam, referring to him by his honorific title, “Kadhim Al-Ghaydh” (The One Who Swallows His Anger). While this story was covered by only one account in the provided list, its exceptionally high post impact rate indicates that religious themes and reverence for key figures in Shia Islam are a powerful driver of engagement on Iraqi Facebook.

9. Mohammed Al-Halbousi’s Public Engagements

Mohammed Al-Halbousi, the leader of the Taqadum Party, was featured in several posts highlighting his recent public activities. His official page, Mohammed Al-Halbousi (Post Impact: 4%), shared photos and a video (Post Impact: 3%) of his attendance at a football match between Al-Zawraa and Al-Karma clubs. In a separate post, his page announced his meeting with the Qatari Minister of Culture to discuss enhancing cultural cooperation between Iraq and Qatar. These posts collectively project an image of Al-Halbousi as an active political leader engaged in both local cultural events and international diplomacy.

10. Viral Video: Restaurant Owner’s Marital Advice

A humorous video has been trending, showing a restaurant owner advising his delivery workers and employees on how to have extramarital affairs without being caught by their wives. The page Baghdad (Post Impact: 8%) shared the clip, noting the owner’s complaint that “every day we are losing an employee,” presumably due to marital problems. The same video was shared by the page Iraq (Post Impact: 3%). The popularity of this non-political, socially themed content demonstrates the appetite for humorous and relatable viral videos among Iraqi Facebook users.