Based on an analysis of 500 Facebook posts trending on 2025-08-21, Miqrab AI identified several key narratives dominating online conversations in Iraq. The most prominent story, driven by a high-impact post, concerned a 90-day television ban on commentator Zainab Jawad. Significant political developments also captured attention, including Muqtada al-Sadr’s disavowal of Sadrist candidates who violated the election boycott, and intense security tensions in Sulaymaniyah surrounding an arrest warrant for Lahur Sheikh Jangi. Social issues were also at the forefront, with continued debate over the controversial death of Dr. Ban Ziyad. Regional and international news, such as Iran closing its airspace and a U.S. fighter jet incident in Malaysia, were widely shared and discussed. Finally, posts highlighted the activities of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, focusing on his meetings with civic groups and efforts to bolster Iraq’s energy sector through international partnerships.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Ban on Commentator Zainab Jawad from TV Appearances

The most engaging story of the day revolved around a decision to ban Zainab Jawad from appearing on television channels for 90 days. The page of politician Mustafa Sanad (Post Impact: 100%) announced the ban without further details. Another page, Ardha (Post Impact: 2%), supported the decision, calling for media institutions to prevent her from being hosted in the future. This page described her recent TV appearance as being “full of insults, profanity, and ridicule of anyone who disagrees with her,” arguing that while they support free expression, they are against turning screens into platforms for insults and mockery.

2. Muqtada al-Sadr Disavows Candidates Violating Boycott

Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr issued a statement disavowing candidates affiliated with the Sadrist Movement (Al-Tayyar Al-Watani Al-Shi’i) and Saraya al-Salam who defied his decision to boycott the elections. The statement, shared by his official page, The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 24%), called on followers to boycott these candidates but also urged them not to attack or transgress against them. The page Khabar Ajel (Breaking News) (Post Impact: 1%) also reported on the disavowal, noting that it involved 15 specific candidates.

3. Conflicting Reactions to Haider al-Hamdani’s Legal Case

The legal case of activist Haider al-Hamdani generated conflicting narratives on Facebook. The page Haider Khalaf Ghazi (Post Impact: 14%) celebrated a positive outcome, thanking lawyer Ali al-Ta’i and what it described as the “fair judiciary.” In contrast, influencer Ammar al-Hilfi (Post Impact: 12%) posted a sarcastic comment asking if Hamdani had been imprisoned yet. In another post, al-Hilfi (Post Impact: 9%) continued his mockery, stating, “While Haider al-Hamdani lies in the bottom of prisons, al-Hilfi enjoys traveling to the Maldives.”

4. Security Tensions in Sulaymaniyah over Lahur Sheikh Jangi

Several pages reported on a tense security situation in Sulaymaniyah after an arrest warrant was issued for Lahur Sheikh Jangi, head of the People’s Front party. Al-Khuwa al-Nathifa (The Clean Brotherhood) (Post Impact: 10%) shared footage allegedly showing armored vehicles from Commando and Counter-Terrorism forces moving towards Jangi’s residence after he refused to surrender. Journalist Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 3%) also inquired about the situation, asking his followers in Sulaymaniyah for details about the encirclement of headquarters on the orders of Bafel Talabani. Other pages like Ahmed AlHamdani (Post Impact: 2%) and Al Hadath Iraq (Post Impact: 2%) confirmed the issuance of the arrest warrant, heightening the sense of escalating tension in the city.

5. Iran Closes its Airspace, Affecting Flights from Baghdad

A significant regional development covered by multiple pages was Iran’s sudden closure of its airspace. Set Ashwaq Umm al-Qanounia (Post Impact: 14%) posted about the news, questioning what was happening. News pages like Al-Adhamiya News (Post Impact: 6%), Min Baghdad (From Baghdad) (Post Impact: 3%), and Nafs Iraq (Post Impact: 3%) reported that Iraqi civil aviation authorities prevented an Iraqi plane from taking off from Baghdad to Tehran as a result. The page Baghdad (Post Impact: 3%) added that the reason for the closure was military maneuvers in Iran.

6. U.S. Hornet Fighter Jet Explodes in Malaysia

An international incident involving a U.S. military aircraft was reported by Iraqi pages. Set Ashwaq Umm al-Qanounia (Post Impact: 14%) mentioned hearing news about a U.S. plane in Malaysia. Al-Khuwa al-Nathifa (The Clean Brotherhood) (Post Impact: 8%) provided more specific details, stating that an American “Hornet” fighter jet exploded during takeoff from an airport in Malaysia. The posts shared the news without additional commentary on its implications.

7. Debates Continue Over the Death of Dr. Ban Ziyad

The death of Dr. Ban Ziyad continues to be a major topic of discussion, with new developments in the narrative. The page Khan Jghan (Post Impact: 5%) highlighted a scientific debate among psychiatrists, quoting Dr. Lubna Qais, who refuted the claims of her colleagues about Dr. Ziyad suffering from “Smiling Depression,” calling the term “purely historical” and not part of modern psychiatric literature. Meanwhile, the official page of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani (Post Impact: 5%) stated that the government had followed the case from day one, and the Basra court’s decision was based on a professional investigation. The Prime Minister also urged people not to be drawn into rumors that harm social peace. Other pages like Nafs Iraq (Post Impact: 3%) shared a controversial claim by Dr. Mohammed Taher, who allegedly suggested that those following the case were linked to “Zionist” agendas attempting to replicate the Mahsa Amini case in Iraq.

8. Prime Minister Sudani’s Engagements and Initiatives

The official Facebook page of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani shared several posts detailing his recent activities. In one highly engaged post, Al-Mohandes Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani (Post Impact: 7%) highlighted his reception of young Iraqi director Hassan Ali Hadi, whose film “The President’s Cake” won awards at the Cannes Film Festival. The Prime Minister praised this as a significant artistic achievement and affirmed the government’s support for works that enhance Iraq’s international cultural standing. In another post, the Prime Minister’s page (Post Impact: 2%) detailed a meeting focused on the electricity sector, emphasizing efforts to reduce waste and improve fee collection.

9. U.S. Energy Companies Deepen Ties with Iraq

Facebook pages highlighted growing energy partnerships between Iraq and major U.S. companies. The page Iraqeen W Bas (Only Iraqis) (Post Impact: 7%) reported that the U.S. Embassy welcomed Iraq’s agreement with Chevron, a leading American energy company. The post quoted the embassy as saying, “Iraq is moving towards energy independence through the gateway of ‘Chevron’ with American expertise and technology.” Similarly, Al-Qasr Al-Hukoumi (The Government Palace) (Post Impact: 3%) celebrated a meeting between Prime Minister Al Sudani and the American energy technology company Halliburton, describing it as successful diplomacy and noting that U.S. companies continue to come to Iraq.

10. Reports of U.S. Troop Withdrawal from Ain al-Asad Base

The withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Ain al-Asad airbase was another trending topic. Al-Adhamiya News (Post Impact: 3%) posted a breaking news update announcing the start of the “actual withdrawal” of American forces from the base. Similarly, Al Hadath Iraq (Post Impact: 2%), citing security sources for Al-Hadath channel, also reported the beginning of the withdrawal. The page added that some factions are calling on the Iraqi government to compel the U.S. to commit to a “real withdrawal.”