Based on an analysis of 446 popular Facebook posts from Iraq on 2025-05-07 by Miqrab AI, the social media landscape was dominated by a mix of high-impact human interest stories, political maneuvering, and social commentary. A poignant video about abandoned children shared by influencer Ali Athab garnered the highest engagement, highlighting the power of emotional narratives. Politically, cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s activities and anti-American statements were a major topic of discussion across several pages. Other significant trends included widespread condemnation and subsequent law enforcement action against a viral case of animal cruelty, celebrity news concerning the separation of media personality Fatima Qidar, and a surge of national pride over Google Maps reportedly adopting the term “Arabian Gulf.” These key narratives demonstrate a dynamic online environment where social issues, political messaging, and regional identity converge.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Ali Athab Highlights Plight of Abandoned Children

A video shared by prominent Iraqi media personality Ali Athab – Ali Athab (Post Impact: 100%) captured the highest engagement of the day, telling the story of young children who were abandoned by their father three years ago after their mother passed away. The post focuses on a child named Saif, who reportedly could not sleep and would cry all night wanting his mother. The highly emotional content resonated deeply with the Iraqi audience, driving a massive response and underscoring the significant impact of human-interest stories shared by major influencers on Iraqi social media.

2. Media Personality Fatima Qidar Announces Separation

The separation of media personality Fatima Qidar from her husband Yasir became a major topic of discussion on social media. The page Al-Iraqi al-Aseel (Post Impact: 48%) expressed shock at the news, stating that Yasir was her primary supporter who helped her achieve her ambitions, and questioned her decision to separate and marry someone else. The page Nabdh al-Iraq (Post Impact: 3%) also shared the news, driving further conversation around the celebrity couple’s personal lives. The posts reflect significant public interest in the lives of local media figures and influencers.

3. Muqtada al-Sadr’s Recent Political Activities and Statements

Several pages reported on the recent activities and statements of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, indicating his continued influence in Iraqi politics. The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 23%) shared a post from his personal account on the platform “X”. This statement was further detailed by Hussam al-Haj (Post Impact: 10%), which quoted al-Sadr as saying, “America’s current friend will be in its sights in the future, like Saddam and Hosni Mubarak,” and warning that “submission to Trump and Netanyahu… brings God’s wrath.” Additionally, al-Sadr’s office announced he made a condolence call to Dr. Iyad Allawi for the passing of his son and reviewed the weekly activities of the Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous project.

4. Man Arrested for Throwing Cat from Bridge

A story about animal cruelty drew significant attention and resulted in swift law enforcement action. Pages reported that a man was arrested after a video circulated showing him throwing a cat from a bridge into the river. Aziz Nasser (Post Impact: 14%) shared the news of the arrest, advising that “an animal has a soul and there is no justification for transgressing against it.” The Iraqi Ministry of Interior (Post Impact: 8%) officially announced the arrest, attributing the action to its committee against “degrading content.” The arrest was also covered by pages like Baghdad (Post Impact: 7%) and Support for Iraqi Security Forces (Post Impact: 2%).

5. Nostalgia and Criticism of Baghdad’s Urban Decline

A recurring theme was the contrast between Baghdad’s past and present, blending nostalgia with criticism of current urban development. The page Min Baghdad+ (Post Impact: 12%) shared rare video clips of the capital from 1982, described as a “magical tour of the capital’s past.” This sentiment was juxtaposed with criticism from I Love IRAQ (Post Impact: 8%), which lamented the “visual pollution” of today, stating that “large gardens have disappeared and been replaced by chicken coop houses.” This illustrates a shared feeling among some users of a decline in the city’s aesthetic and quality of life.

6. Reports of Rising India-Pakistan Military Tensions

Concerns over a potential military conflict between India and Pakistan were shared across several pages. Set Ashwaq um al-Qanouniyya (Post Impact: 10%) posted about the escalating situation, warning that it could turn nuclear. This was echoed by Al-Khalia al-Tacticiyya (Post Impact: 1%), which cited Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, claiming that Pakistan had shot down all Indian fighter jets, including Rafales, using Chinese-made J-10C fighters. The posts highlight Iraqi social media users’ attention to major international conflicts.

7. Google Maps Reportedly Adopts the Name “Arabian Gulf”

A wave of celebratory posts announced that Google Maps had officially adopted the name “Arabian Gulf,” replacing “Persian Gulf.” Pages like Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 6%) and Baghdad (Post Impact: 4%) shared the news, with some linking it to recent comments by Donald Trump. Corroborating this angle, Aljazeera – Iraq (Post Impact: 3%) quoted Trump saying he would receive a briefing and make a decision on the name change during a visit to the region. The topic sparked expressions of regional and national pride among Iraqi users.

8. Government Announces Plan for Five New Hospitals in Baghdad

Positive news about public infrastructure was shared by the pro-government page Al-Qasr al-Hukoumi (Post Impact: 5%), which announced that five new hospitals are scheduled for completion this year. The hospitals listed are Al-Hurriya, Al-Ma’amil, Al-Fudhailiya, Al-Nahrawan, and Sabe’ al-Bour. In a separate post, the page noted that the Al-Nahrawan General Hospital is nearing its official opening, using the hashtag #Government_of_Hospitals to promote the administration’s efforts in the healthcare sector.

9. Renewed Discussion on Khor Abdullah Border Dispute

The contentious issue of the Khor Abdullah maritime border with Kuwait resurfaced on Facebook. Min Baghdad (Post Impact: 4%) cited activist Saud al-Saadi, who claimed that a Kuwaiti MP revealed Iraqi officials received $6 billion to remain silent on the issue. Providing a more technical perspective, Basim Khazal khashan (Post Impact: 1%) explained the historical context of the border demarcation, tracing it back to the 1963 recognition and UN Security Council Resolution 833, suggesting that altering the border would require diplomatic or military action against these established agreements.

10. Pages Debunk Disinformation Targeting Ammar al-Hakim

Fact-checking pages actively worked to debunk a piece of disinformation targeting Ammar al-Hakim, head of the National Wisdom Movement. Khat al-Difa’ al-Raqami (Post Impact: 3%) and Tech 4 Peace (Post Impact: 2%) both refuted a false claim that al-Hakim had welcomed Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa to Baghdad. Khat al-Difa’ al-Raqami described the fake news as part of an “electronic campaign” and noted that some of the pages promoting it may be linked to the Sadrist movement, highlighting ongoing political tensions playing out online.