Based on an analysis of 449 X/Twitter posts trending on June 3, 2025, by Miqrab AI, the primary narratives in Iraq revolve around contentious historical anniversaries and contemporary political and social controversies. Key discussions include the polarized commemoration of Ayatollah Khomeini’s death and the solemn remembrance of the 2016 Saqlawiya abductions. A major domestic debate erupted over the Baghdad Provincial Council’s decision to mandate the “Zainabi abaya” as official attire, while political tensions flared between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government over salary payments. Security concerns were also prominent, with reports of an alleged former ISIS member planning to run for office and an attack on Ayatollah Sistani’s office in Syria.

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

1. Polarized Views on Ayatollah Khomeini’s Death Anniversary

Discussions surrounding religious and political figures were dominated by the 36th anniversary of the death of Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini, which sparked sharply contrasting viewpoints. The most engaged post by Dr. Hussein Al-Safi (Post Impact: 100%) shared an image with the caption, “Peace be upon the realizer of the prophets’ dream.” On one side, accounts like Ahmad Abdulsada (Post Impact: 58%) praised Khomeini, quoting writer Mohamed Hassanein Heikal’s description of him as a figure who “returned to life by a miracle to lead Ali’s camp after the Umayyad victory,” adding that Khomeini transformed Shi’ites from a marginalized nation to a triumphant one. Conversely, Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 53%) condemned Khomeini as the “Dajjal” who turned Iran into a “terrorist state” and initiated an eight-year war with Iraq, accusing him of spreading terrorism and ordering assassinations.

2. Remembering the 2016 Saqlawiya Abductions

Several accounts marked the anniversary of the mass abduction in Saqlawiya on June 3, 2016, calling for justice and accountability. Othman Al-Mukhtar (Post Impact: 76%) described it as “the largest mass kidnapping carried out by the Popular Mobilization Forces militias in Iraq,” stating that nearly 700 Sunni civilians aged 13 to 81 were taken from north of Fallujah and their fate remains unknown due to what he calls sectarian-motivated delays by successive governments and the judiciary. In another post, Al-Mukhtar (Post Impact: 27%) reiterated that the kidnappers’ identities are known from videos and testimonies. Zina Al Saab (Post Impact: 12%) also posted on the anniversary, stating, “It has been 9 years since the Iranian militias in #Iraq took them and there is no news of them!!! We will not forget our sons.”

3. Debate Over “Zainabi Abaya” as Official Attire in Baghdad

A decision by the Baghdad Provincial Council to adopt the “Zainabi abaya” as an official form of dress in the capital sparked widespread and heated debate. The news was shared by accounts like Haidar (Post Impact: 41%), who stated the decision was made to “promote respect, dignity, and modesty.” The move was met with harsh criticism from users like Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 37%), who accused the council of trying to “paint the city black” and impose their mentalities on the capital, asserting, “We won’t become Iran.” Tamara Alkhazraji (Post Impact: 14%) questioned why Baghdadi women should be forced to wear the abaya when even Iran only mandates the hijab. Conversely, the decision found support from accounts like Dr. Hussein Al-Safi (Post Impact: 21%), who criticized opponents of the decision and defended it as a matter of religious freedom and modesty.

4. KRG-Baghdad Tensions Over Salary Payments

Tensions escalated between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government over the latter’s decision to halt salary funding for KRG employees. Hoshyar Zebari (Post Impact: 52%), a prominent Kurdish politician, condemned the move by Prime Minister Al-Sudani’s government as a form of “collective punishment and starvation” of the region’s citizens under financial pretexts. He warned that the decision “will not pass without consequences” and stated that “the aggressor will be punished.” Concurring on the need for resolution, Ezzat Alshabandar (Post Impact: 12%) called the situation “worrying” and urged both sides to engage in serious dialogue within the constitutional framework to find a radical and just solution.

5. Allegations of Former ISIS Official in Elections

A document circulating on X / Twitter alleges that a former ISIS official is preparing to run in the 2025 parliamentary elections as part of Khamis al-Khanjar’s coalition. Dr. Hussein Al-Safi (Post Impact: 14%) shared the “secret document,” identifying the individual as Rafie Hatem al-Mashhadani, the alleged former head of economy for ISIS’s “Wilayat al-Shamal,” and called on authorities to investigate. The same document was shared by Haidar (Post Impact: 11%) and Huroof Sumaria (Post Impact: 11%), both highlighting the connection to Khamis al-Khanjar and expressing alarm.

6. Attack on Ayatollah Sistani’s Damascus Office

Reports emerged of an attack on the office of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in the Sayyidah Zaynab area of Damascus, Syria. According to Haidar (Post Impact: 21%), a Libyan leader in Jabhat al-Nusra named “Abu Omar al-Libi” and his group attacked and damaged property at the office. The post added that the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing to send a protest note to the Syrian side. Yousif Al-Kilaby (Post Impact: 18%) also commented on the attack, sarcastically addressing Prime Minister Al-Sudani and the Foreign Minister about their perceived welcoming of HTS leader al-Jolani, asking why the Foreign Ministry is silent now that “his guys” have attacked Sistani’s office.

7. US Congress to Designate Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Group

A widely shared post announced a significant move by the United States legislature regarding the Muslim Brotherhood. Sufian Al-Samarrai (Post Impact: 51%) posted what he described as “Great news for all of humanity,” stating that the U.S. Congress is classifying the Muslim Brotherhood as a banned global terrorist organization. The post, which received high engagement, was presented as a definitive development in U.S. policy towards the group.

8. Tensions Rise Over Rocket Attacks From Syria

Multiple accounts discussed rocket attacks launched from Syria towards the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, attributing the act to the militant group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Issam Hussein (Post Impact: 17%) reported that HTS fired two rockets. Haidar (Post Impact: 12%) added that the Israeli Minister of Defense has vowed a response, holding the “Syrian President” (referring to HTS leader al-Jolani) directly responsible. Similarly, Sufian Al-Samarrai (Post Impact: 8%) warned of a resounding Israeli response in the heart of Damascus against HTS positions.

9. Analysis of Iran-Egypt Rapprochement

The developing diplomatic relationship between Iran and Egypt was a subject of geopolitical analysis, framed primarily as a response to the Muslim Brotherhood’s influence. Ahmad Abdulsada (Post Impact: 16%) interpreted the rapprochement as a joint effort to confront the “danger” of takfiri organizations linked to the Muslim Brotherhood coming to power in Damascus. He described it as Iran’s message to its Turkish and Qatari rivals, effectively saying, “You betrayed us in Syria… but we will respond in kind by coordinating with your staunchest enemy, Sisi.” This sentiment was echoed sarcastically by Mustafa Al-Dulaimi (Post Impact: 17%), who asked, “Has Sisi become sacred yet? Can we see a street in Baghdad named after Sisi?”

10. Politician’s Son Threatens Activist Over Criticism

A controversy emerged involving Najaf MP Abdulhadi al-Hasnawi and his son, who allegedly threatened a citizen for online criticism. Hiba Al-Nnayib (Post Impact: 13%) shared a video in which the MP’s son is heard threatening a citizen with violence for posting critically about his father on Facebook, with the threat, “I will shave your mustache and hit you with a shoe.” Noor – Um Omar (Post Impact: 6%) provided more context, explaining that the threats followed popular protests in the Haidariya area over power outages, during which a leaked audio of the MP threatening to “cut the ears” of protesters surfaced.