Miqrab AI’s analysis of 409 trending Facebook posts in Iraq on August 25, 2026, reveals a complex social media landscape dominated by discussions on national identity and sectarianism, spurred by viral content and religious events. The celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday was a major topic, with official congratulations from the government and public festivities being widely shared. Concurrently, a resurfaced debate involving religious figures fueled concerns over sectarian incitement, prompting calls for unity and fact-checking from media pages. On the political front, Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaydi’s activities, particularly his directive to use the national ID card in future elections, garnered significant attention. Regional developments, including the dissolution of the SDF in Syria and rising US-Iran tensions, were also prominent, reflecting Iraq’s position within a volatile geopolitical environment.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Debates on Sectarianism and Calls for National Unity

A video from Haider Al-Hamdani (Post Impact: 100%) with the caption “Are you Sunni or Shia?” sparked widespread discussion about sectarian identity in Iraq. Echoing calls for unity, Mohammad Nasser Khalif (Post Impact: 17%) shared a video reminding followers that Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said, “Sunnis are our souls,” and posted the message “No, no to sectarianism.” In a detailed post, Baqir Jabr Al-Zubeidi (Post Impact: 8%) warned against projects aimed at weakening Iraq’s internal front through sectarian strife, stating that the goal is to weaken Iraq for external projects. He urged all Iraqis to be cautious, concluding, “Shia, Sunnis, and Kurds, beware, the target is your homeland, our future is one, and our destiny is one.”

2. Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday Celebrations

The anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday was a major topic, with officials and the public marking the occasion. The Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister (Post Impact: 18%) published a congratulatory message from Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaydi, emphasizing values of “mercy, tolerance, justice, and brotherhood” and calling the occasion an opportunity to strengthen national unity. Pages like Baghdad (Post Impact: 6%) shared images of large crowds celebrating at the Sheikh Abdul Qadir Al-Kilani shrine in Baghdad. In Mosul, the page Mosul – MOSUL (Post Impact: 6%) reported that a local hospital saw the birth of over 15 babies named “Muhammad” in honor of the day. Meanwhile, Tech 4 Peace (Post Impact: 5%) debunked a fabricated image that falsely showed unveiled women at the celebrations in the Adhamiyah district, clarifying it was an old photo manipulated with AI.

3. PM Orders Use of National ID in Future Elections

Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaydi directed that the unified national ID card be used as the sole voter identification document in upcoming elections. According to the Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister (Post Impact: 7%), the directive came during a meeting with the Ministry of Interior and the Independent High Electoral Commission. The Prime Minister stated that using the national card will facilitate voting procedures and enhance the accuracy of electoral data. Other pages like Hisham Ali (Post Impact: 3%) and Min Baghdad (Post Impact: 3%) reported the news, with the latter framing it as a “step to curb vote-selling.”

4. Dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)

Several Iraqi pages reported on the announcement by Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), that the group would be dissolved. Al-Khwa Al-Nadifa (Post Impact: 12%) and Al-Khaleia Al-Tacticia (Post Impact: 5%) both quoted Abdi announcing the dissolution of “qasd” (SDF), its self-administration, and all affiliated military and civil formations, with the intent to integrate into the new Syrian state institutions. Ahmed AlHamdani (Post Impact: 12%) commented that “Syria is one step ahead of Iraq,” highlighting the peaceful dissolution of the group.

5. Controversy Over Religious Figures and Sectarianism

A debate over sectarian rhetoric involving religious figures gained traction online. Ammar Al-Hilfi (Post Impact: 8%) reported that Muawiya al-Hilli, the brother of Yazeed al-Hassoun, warned against insults directed at his brother and threatened legal and tribal action against transgressors. In response to old videos of eulogy reciter Faqid Al-Moussawi being recirculated, Tech 4 Peace (Post Impact: 5%) fact-checked a clip, clarifying that it was from 2025 and not recent. The page Ardah (Post Impact: 2%) questioned why Al-Moussawi’s old mistake, for which he apologized, was being revived while Yazeed al-Hassoun continues to make offensive statements without apology, calling for accountability for all without selectivity.

6. Government Statements and Debates on Employee Salaries

The issue of public sector salaries was a key topic, with conflicting messages circulating. The page Al-Khwa Al-Nadifa (Post Impact: 9%) reported a statement from Minister of Finance Faleh Al-Sari reassuring the public that “employee salaries are fully secured and there is no intention to distribute them every 45 days.” However, Mohammed Al-Khazaei (Post Impact: 7%) shared a clip of MP Mohammed Abu Al-Eis stating that the Finance Minister told them the new salary scale law is “almost impossible” to implement, but there is a proposal to adjust the salaries of low-income employees. Diyala Diyala TV (Post Impact: 3%) reported that the Ministry of Finance would begin funding salaries in the coming hours.

7. Prisoner Released After 17 Years Following Public Appeal

Influencer Haider Al-Hamdani (Post Impact: 53%) announced the release of a young man who had been sentenced to 40 years in prison and had already served 17 of them. According to the post, the release came after the man’s mother appeared in an appeal video with Al-Hamdani. The influencer expressed his gratitude, stating, “Thank God who made my voice a reason to support the oppressed.” The video shows the emotional reunion of the man with his family.

8. Podcast Discusses the Future of Israel

A podcast from the page Jim Scene (Post Impact: 28%) featured a discussion about whether Israel will surpass its 80th year. The clip, featuring Thair Jiyad Al-Hasnawi and Osama Hamdan, posed the question, “Israel is approaching its eightieth year… will it surpass it?” A related clip from the same page (Post Impact: 7%) carried a quote from the podcast asserting that “throughout history… those who resisted until the end are the ones who triumphed.” The posts generated discussion around regional conflicts and historical predictions.

9. US-Iran Tensions and Sanctions Affecting the Region

Tensions between the United States and Iran were a subject of discussion, with direct implications for Iraq. Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 9%) shared a list attributed to the U.S. Treasury Department calling for the closure of all branches of Iran’s Bank Melli, including three branches in Iraq (Baghdad, Najaf, and Basra). In a related development, Al-Khaleia Al-Tacticia (Post Impact: 4%), citing US officials, reported that the US military is preparing for potential Iranian missile or drone attacks on regional military targets in the coming days as a result of US economic pressure on Iran, and will respond immediately to any such attacks.

10. Arrests in Fallujah for Practicing Sorcery

Several pages reported on the arrest of individuals in Fallujah accused of practicing witchcraft and sorcery. Wahed Watan (Post Impact: 2%) reported that two suspects were arrested after 30 ready-made “works” of sorcery were found in an herbal shop in Fallujah, noting that a delivery service was used to transport them. Similarly, Ahmed Al-Dhawaq (Post Impact: 2%) reported that Anbar police arrested a woman in Fallujah on charges of practicing sorcery against more than 400 people.