Based on an analysis of 497 X / Twitter posts trending on October 26, 2025, Miqrab AI identified several key narratives dominating online discourse in Iraq. Prominent themes included sharp critiques of religious extremism and its impact on societal progress, intense debate surrounding the upcoming elections with competing calls for boycotts versus participation by resistance-aligned factions, and significant security concerns over the reported withdrawal of PKK forces into Iraqi territory. Other major topics involved the public takedown of an alleged online sectarian agitator, criticism of media standards and political figures, and accusations of government censorship against former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

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

1. Debates on Religious Extremism and National Progress

A prominent narrative driven by high-engagement posts criticizes religious extremism and questions its role in society’s development. Sufian Al-Samarrai (Post Impact: 100%) condemned extremists who, like “madmen and the disturbed,” attack anyone who does not adhere to their ideology, arguing that people in the West now fear speaking their minds. In another highly influential post, Sufian Al-Samarrai (Post Impact: 95%) directly challenged followers by asking why a non-religious country like China has advanced while others have regressed, questioning, “What is the difference between our minds and their minds, what distinguishes them from us?” He urged followers to respond with logic rather than emotion.

2. Security Action Against an Alleged Online Sectarian Network

A significant story emerged from user Hayder (Post Impact: 86%), who claimed that a prominent sectarian online personality known as “Naba” or “Darhouma” was apprehended by security forces. According to his post, this individual led a “large sectarian network on Twitter” and had crossed all red lines, but was living in a state of “terror, anxiety, and panic” after being caught. Hayder stated that despite having the ability to ensure she faced up to seven years in prison, he decided to forgive her in exchange for a public apology, the deletion of her offensive content, and the permanent closure of her accounts. In a follow-up post, Hayder (Post Impact: 30%) provided further backstory, claiming she had previously evaded accountability due to connections but was ultimately brought down.

3. Calls to Boycott the Upcoming November Elections

A campaign to boycott the upcoming elections scheduled for November 2025 is gaining significant traction on X. The movement is being promoted under the hashtag #قاطعوا_الانتخابات (Boycott the elections). Faiq Al-Sheikh Ali/My Word for History (Post Impact: 77%) announced that his campaign will officially launch on November 1st, stating that the abstention of Tishreen activists and civilians will allow militias to win, which he describes as “what is required at this stage.” Similarly, Mulla Abood Al-Karkhi (Post Impact: 32%) urged his followers to boycott as a means to protest rigged elections, internationally isolate militias, and achieve a “free nation.” He argued that participating in the elections would only grant legitimacy to unauthorized weapons.

4. TV Presenter Mocked for Mistaking Quranic Verse for Social Media Quote

A video clip of a television presenter on Al-Basra channel sparked widespread ridicule and criticism of media standards in Iraq. In a post that went viral, Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 77%) shared a video in which the presenter incorrectly states that the Quranic verse, “Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves,” is not a Quranic verse but rather one of “the sayings of Instagram.” Al-Maliki mocked the presenter’s lack of knowledge, exclaiming, “Who made these people program presenters!?!?! Let me write about another year of decline!” The post was shared widely as an example of deteriorating professionalism in Iraqi media.

5. Resistance Factions Argue for Political Participation in Elections

Countering the election boycott movement, figures associated with resistance factions are advocating for political participation as a strategic necessity. Abu Alaa Al-Walaei (Post Impact: 53%), a leader in Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, argued that discussing elections is not a departure from the field of resistance but rather a transition to another resistive climate of equal importance. He reiterated this stance in another post, stating their decision to run is based on the belief that “the political decision is a guarantee for the message of the resistance, a fortress for its weapons, a protection for its blood, and an achievement of its goals.” This view was supported by Huroof Sumaria (Post Impact: 22%), who defended Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq’s entry into politics as a necessary move to change the equations set by foreign powers.

6. Alarm Over PKK Forces Withdrawing from Turkey into Iraq

Multiple accounts expressed strong opposition and concern over reports that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is withdrawing all its forces from Turkey and relocating them to Iraq. Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 47%) described the development as a “new disaster” and questioned how the Iraqi government allowed it to happen, blaming “the Shiites of Iran.” This sentiment was echoed by Falah Al-Mashal (Post Impact: 24%), who called it a “dangerous and urgent” decision that is not in Iraq’s interest and questioned the government’s commitment to national sovereignty. Sheikh Thaer Al-Bayati (Post Impact: 22%) listed the PKK among a long list of foreign-backed militias operating in Iraq, attributing their presence to the “Iranian regime” and the current government.

7. Digital Transformation at Ministry of Higher Education Met with Criticism

The Minister of Higher Education, Naeem Al-Aboudi (Post Impact: 47%), announced a new stage of digital transformation with the launch of the HEPIQ platform for university admissions for the 2025/2026 academic year. He stated the new system will allow students to complete registration entirely online without the need for in-person visits. However, this announcement was met with sharp criticism from other accounts. Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 28%) shared a video detailing alleged “scandals” at what he called the “(Asa’ib) Ministry of Education.” In a similar vein, Ghaith Al-Tamimi (Post Impact: 20%) sarcastically noted the “brilliant success” of the “Minister of Asa’ib” by pointing out that Iraqi education remains outside of international rankings.

8. Chaos and Fighting Erupt at Sovereignty Party Electoral Conference

Videos circulated widely showing chaos and physical altercations at an electoral conference for the Sovereignty Party (Hizb al-Siyada) in the Al-Amiriyah area of Baghdad. Sabereen news (Post Impact: 45%) shared a video of what it humorously termed “chair and drone grinding” at the event. The disruption led to widespread mockery of the party’s leadership. Wasan Al-Sheikhli (Post Impact: 14%) derided the party leader, saying, “You couldn’t control five disorganized people, you cattle thief, Khamis.” Emad Al Musafir (Post Impact: 15%) criticized the politician’s inability to manage a single event, noting that instead of fixing the problem, he called for gunfire.

9. Development in Kurdistan Region Highlighted and Contrasted with Federal Iraq

Several accounts highlighted recent development projects in the Kurdistan Region, often contrasting them with the situation in the rest of Iraq. The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani (Post Impact: 26%), announced the inauguration of a $100 million agriculture and livestock project in Erbil, which he said would create over 1,000 jobs. This was praised by others like Dr. Qusay Shafiq (Post Impact: 25%), who favorably compared a 22km road project in Kurdistan to a much more expensive half-kilometer bridge in Baghdad. This progress was also linked to the region’s political model by Sufian Al-Samarrai (Post Impact: 13%), who claimed Kurdistan’s success was due to its decision to “confine religion to the mosque, church, and temple and not involve it in politics.”

10. Allegations of Censorship After Nouri al-Maliki Interview is Deleted

A number of users are alleging an act of government censorship after a recent interview with former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was reportedly removed from online platforms. Tamara Alkhazraji (Post Impact: 25%) claimed that the Communications and Media Commission deleted the interview with journalist Thair Jiyad based on an order from Prime Minister Al-Sudani’s office. This accusation was echoed by Dhaher Saleh Al-Kharsan (Post Impact: 16%), who mocked Maliki over the incident. The move was condemned as an attack on press freedom by Dr. Qusay Shafiq (Post Impact: 13%), who questioned the use of power to silence dissenting voices. In a show of support, Ahmad Mulla Talal (Post Impact: 10%) declared his solidarity with the platform “Seen Jeem” and rejected what he called a “temporary” attack on freedom of expression.