Based on an analysis of 438 Facebook posts by Miqrab AI on September 29, 2026, the primary online conversations in Iraq were dominated by calls for reform and accountability within the Hajj Authority amid allegations of widespread corruption. A second major narrative focused on the national football team’s disappointing elimination from the Gulf Cup, which sparked frustration among fans and commentary from officials. Other significant topics included anti-corruption efforts, such as the arrest of hospital employees in Samawah for fraud, and political discussions concerning cabinet decisions, the alleged persecution of activists, and Iraq’s foreign relations.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Calls to Overhaul Hajj System Amid Corruption Allegations

A significant movement is underway in the Iraqi Parliament to reform the Hajj lottery system following recent controversies. Maraya (Post Impact: 100%) reports that MP Ibtisam al-Hilali intends to propose redoing the Hajj lottery for the next four years, to be held publicly in Baghdad under governmental and parliamentary oversight. The proposal also suggests exempting applicants aged 65 and over and those previously selected as winners. Concurrently, there are parliamentary moves to summon and question the head of the Hajj Authority, Sami al-Masoudi, regarding what MPs have described as “administrative violations” and “suspicions of corruption.” The page notes that MP Mohammed Jassim al-Khafaji had previously submitted a request for al-Masoudi’s dismissal. In a related development, MP Sumaya al-Khabouri has called for increasing Nineveh’s annual quota of pilgrims to 4,500 to better reflect the province’s population.

2. Iraqi Football Team Eliminated from Gulf Cup by Lottery

Widespread disappointment and discussion followed the Iraqi national football team’s elimination from Gulf Cup 27. After losing to Saudi Arabia and drawing with Oman, Iraq’s fate was ultimately decided by a lottery, which Oman won. Pages like Al-Khuwa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 51%) and Sit Ashwaq Um Al-Qanouniya (Post Impact: 29%) officially announced the news of the team’s exit. Before the decisive matches, former national team captain Younis Mahmoud (Post Impact: 62%) had posted a message of support, expressing his great confidence in the team. In the aftermath, accounts such as Haider al-Hamdani (Post Impact: 45%) tried to raise morale by stating, “two goals do not affect the prestige of our national team!” Another post from Al-Khuwa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 14%) quoted football officials who claimed the exit was “expected” and that the coach was not to blame.

3. Ten Hospital Employees Arrested in Samawah for Fraud

A major anti-corruption case was reported in Samawah, where the Federal Commission of Integrity announced the arrest of ten employees at a local hospital. According to Maraya (Post Impact: 51%), the employees are accused of manipulating patient payment receipts and illegally embezzling the funds. The commission’s investigation uncovered over 1,000 patient files, finding that approximately 800 had no receipts at all, while around 200 had receipts issued under names different from the actual patients. Tapping into a related theme of healthcare mismanagement, Haider al-Hamdani (Post Impact: 44%) posted a video highlighting a “humanitarian catastrophe,” asking why patients are instructed to buy medications from private pharmacies when they are supposed to be available within the hospitals.

4. Iraqi Cabinet Approves PMF Law and New Economic Policies

The office of Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaydi issued a statement on the 21st regular session of the Council of Ministers, outlining several key decisions. As detailed by the Iraqi PMO (Post Impact: 8%), the cabinet voted to approve the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) law and refer it to parliament for a vote. Other approved measures included projects to sell land to University of Mosul employees for housing, infrastructure development for the new Sadr City project, and a ban on the export of scrap metals like copper, aluminum, and lead to support local industries. In a related political development, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (Post Impact: 2%) reported on a Coordination Framework meeting where completing the cabinet formation and addressing the ban on Iranian civil aviation were discussed.

5. Activist Mustafa Sanad Allegedly Flees Iraq

The page Ahmed al-Washah (Post Impact: 16%) reported that Mustafa Sanad, described as a prominent voice of the Tishreen movement, has fled Iraq illegally (“qajaq”). The post alleges that he was forced to pay a smuggler to leave his homeland due to “malicious lawsuits and being pursued by militias and the corrupt.” The author expressed regret that someone who “defended Iraq and exposed the corrupt” was forced to flee, contrasting his situation with others who have been appointed to high-level government positions.

6. Ghaith Al-Tamimi Stirs Controversy on Netanyahu and Iran

Religious figure Ghaith Al-Tamimi has been a subject of online discussion following the sharing of several provocative clips from his media interviews. One reel posted on his official page, Ghaith Al-Tamimi (Post Impact: 27%), was titled with the question, “Why did you applaud Netanyahu?” In another clip shared by the same page (Post Impact: 2%), he made a strong statement declaring, “Ahwaz is Arab… and Iran is a stranger among us!” These posts highlight his controversial positions on regional politics, including relations with Israel and Iran, which have sparked significant engagement online.

7. Ex-PM’s Statement on US Influence Sparks Fact-Check

Former Prime Minister Adil Abd Al-Mahdi published a statement on his official page (Post Impact: 12%), stating, “We are ashamed that OFAC ‘Office of Foreign Assets Control’ dictates its humiliating orders to us.” He attributed a quote to American political scientist John Mearsheimer, claiming he said, “I am ashamed: The entire power of the United States has become dedicated to preventing civilian flights from landing.” However, this was quickly challenged by the page Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 5%), which claimed to have fact-checked the quote and found it to be false. The page directly accused the former prime minister of dishonesty, stating, “Abu al-Adala, you are too old for lying.”

8. Militia Faction “Ashab al-Kahf” Threatens US Aircraft

The armed faction “Ashab al-Kahf” (Companions of the Cave) reportedly issued a statement threatening to target any American aircraft observed after September 30. This was shared by the page Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 13%), which then proceeded to mock the threat. The post sarcastically questioned the faction’s military capabilities by listing a series of advanced American fighter jets and air defense systems, asking, “Seriously, what will you shoot it down with?… Talk to me! Face me and tell me, what will you down these with, you buffoon?!”

9. History of Iraq’s Su-25 Jets in the War Against ISIS

The page The Tactical Cell (Post Impact: 13%) posted a historical account of the Iraqi Air Force’s use of Su-25 ground attack aircraft during the war against ISIS starting in 2014. According to the post, Iraq urgently acquired used Su-25s from Russia, Belarus, and Iran to combat the terrorist groups. The page highlights that former pilots who had served before the 2003 invasion were recalled, some even returning from abroad, which led to their unit, the 109th Squadron, being nicknamed the “squadron of commanders.” The post states that these aircraft flew 4,000 combat missions between 2014 and 2017.

10. Damac Begins Construction on Free Housing in Baghdad

The UAE-based real estate developer Damac International has officially laid the foundation stone for its “Bayt al-Ezz” (House of Dignity) housing project in the Nahrawan area of Baghdad. As reported by Baghdad Projects (Post Impact: 5%), this first phase includes the construction of 1,000 homes to be provided to deserving Iraqi families at no cost. This initiative is part of a larger commitment by Damac to build and deliver 7,000 free housing units across several Iraqi provinces in coordination with the Iraqi government, aiming to support social welfare and urban development in the country.