Based on Miqrab AI’s analysis of 399 Facebook posts trending in Iraq on May 23, 2026, the online conversation was dominated by a mix of local politics, sports, and compelling human interest stories. The most engaging topic was a humanitarian appeal concerning a paralyzed mother and her blind daughter at Al-Kafeel Hospital. Significant attention was also given to the Iraqi Football Association elections, which saw Younis Mahmoud elected as president, leading to a contentious reaction from the losing candidate, Adnan Dirjal. The new Prime Minister, Ali Faleh Al-Zaydi, was a central figure in discussions following his visit to the Ministry of Finance and his popular directive to remove his own and other ministers’ portraits from government offices. Additionally, there was considerable discussion about a potential peace agreement between the United States and Iran, reportedly being negotiated by Donald Trump, and political meetings in Baghdad involving Iraqi and Kurdish leaders.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Humanitarian Appeal for Woman at Al-Kafeel Hospital

The most impactful story on Facebook involves a humanitarian appeal for a paralyzed mother and her blind daughter at Al-Kafeel Super Speciality Hospital. The page Hayder Al-Hamdani (Post Impact: 100%) shared a video questioning if religious figures would accept the woman’s suffering, asking, “Is it conceivable that Al-Abbas Abu Fadl would accept this mother remaining paralyzed and her blind daughter without support?” The story was amplified by Haidar Khalaf Ghazi (Post Impact: 31%), who announced that Al-Hamdani would be sharing a new story from the hospital, stating that “Al-Hamdani will not stop speaking the truth.” These posts generated a massive response, focusing public attention on the family’s plight and the role of charitable institutions.

2. Younis Mahmoud Wins Football Association Presidency

The election of Younis Mahmoud as the new president of the Iraqi Football Association was a major topic of discussion, generating both celebration and controversy. Set Ashwaq Umm Al-Qanuniyah (Post Impact: 28%) announced the news, congratulating Mahmoud and commiserating with the losing candidate, Adnan Dirjal. The contentious aftermath was highlighted by several pages, including Mohammed Nasser Khalif Mohammed Nasser Khalif (Post Impact: 32%) and Hussam Alhaj hussam alhaj (Post Impact: 8%), which shared videos of Dirjal leaving angrily and blaming his loss on Mohammed al-Halbousi and Aqil Miftan, stating, “Congratulations to Halbousi and Aqil Miftan.” Al-Khwa Al-Nadheefa (Post Impact: 17%) provided a list of the new administrative board for the 2026–2030 electoral cycle.

3. PM Al-Zaydi Orders Removal of His Portrait from Offices

Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaydi received widespread positive attention for his directive to remove his portrait, and those of other ministers, from all government departments and institutions. The Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister (Post Impact: 17%) officially announced the decision, quoting the Prime Minister as saying, “We want people to see our work, not our pictures.” This was echoed by pages like Hassan Zuher Hakim (Post Impact: 32%) and Maher Mouhi::The Voice of the Nation’s Protectors (Post Impact: 7%). The decision was framed as a shift in focus from personality cults to tangible achievements, with Salem Mashkour (Post Impact: 12%) calling it an “important decision” but adding that it’s more important to prevent relatives from interfering in ministry affairs.

4. PM Al-Zaydi Visits Ministry of Finance, Addresses Economy

Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaydi’s visit to the Ministry of Finance was covered extensively, focusing on his directives for Iraq’s economic and financial policies. The Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister (Post Impact: 17%) detailed the visit, noting the PM’s emphasis on diversifying the economy away from oil dependency and the need for financial transparency with citizens. The PM also addressed concerns about public sector salaries, a point specifically highlighted by Maher Mouhi::The Voice of the Nation’s Protectors (Post Impact: 8%) and Iraqeen W Bas (Post Impact: 7%), who reported his directive to ensure timely payment of salaries for employees and social welfare recipients. The page Baghdad (Post Impact: 14%) shared a video clip summarizing Al-Zaydi’s frank discussion of the country’s financial situation.

5. Reports of Imminent US-Iran Peace Deal Under Trump

A potential peace agreement between the United States and Iran, brokered by Donald Trump, was a significant international story discussed on Iraqi Facebook pages. Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 7%) posted a statement attributed to Trump, detailing phone calls with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain about a memorandum of understanding for peace with Iran. Dr. Mudhaffar Qasim Hussein (Post Impact: 10%) commented on the news, framing it as a strategic victory for Iran. Al-Khaleia Al-Taktikia (The Tactical Cell) (Post Impact: 7%) provided updates, noting that while the Iranian side is optimistic, it remains cautious due to the U.S.’s poor record in negotiations.

6. Muqtada Al-Sadr’s Office Publishes Statement on “X”

A post from the cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on the social media platform “X” (formerly Twitter) was shared by his official office page. The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 43%) published an image of the statement released on May 23, 2026. The post itself does not contain the text of the statement, only announcing that it was published on his personal account. This high-impact post indicates significant interest among his followers in his communications, even without revealing the specific content of his message on Facebook itself.

7. Masrour Barzani Visits Baghdad for High-Level Meetings

The President of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Masrour Barzani, visited Baghdad for meetings with top Iraqi officials. The Media Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister (Post Impact: 5%) shared a video of Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaydi receiving Barzani. Mohammad Al-Halbousi (Post Impact: 4%), head of the Taqaddum Party, also posted about his meeting with Barzani, stating they discussed the general situation in the country and the importance of resolving outstanding issues between the federal government and the Kurdistan region according to the constitution. The large convoy accompanying Barzani in Baghdad was noted in a video by Ammar Al-Hilfi (Post Impact: 4%).

8. Senior Interior Ministry Official’s Surprise Inspection

A surprise inspection of the Al-Saadoun police station by the Senior Deputy Minister of Interior, Hussein Al-Awadi, was covered as a move towards greater accountability. Maher Mouhi::The Voice of the Nation’s Protectors (Post Impact: 13%) shared a video of the unannounced visit, reporting that it resulted in an investigative council and immediate transfers to Basra for the personnel involved. The page Support for Iraqi Security Forces (Post Impact: 3%) also reported on the raid, stating, “He entered at dawn on a surprise visit… they were transferred to Basra and all are detained and under investigation.” The posts highlighted the official’s strict approach to enforcing discipline within the security forces.

9. Complaints Emerge Over Difficult Sixth-Grade Exams

Students and parents expressed frustration over the difficulty of recent sixth-grade national exams, particularly in the subject of Science. The page Akher Al-Ahdath Al-Iraqiya (Latest Iraqi Events) (Post Impact: 5%) described the science questions as difficult and unusual for not including diagrams, noting that the English and Social Studies exams were also challenging for the students’ level. Similarly, Markaz Al-Iraqi Al-Khabari (Iraqi News Center) (Post Impact: 5%) shared a post lamenting the questions, with a curse on those who set them: “May God hold you accountable, what kind of questions are these, may it affect your well-being.”

10. Hookahs Banned at Al-Jawsak Corniche in Mosul

A local governance decision in Mosul to ban hookahs (argileh) at the Al-Jawsak Corniche drew attention online. Mosul – MOSUL (Post Impact: 5%) and Bab Al-Toob (Post Impact: 3%) both reported that the District Commissioner of Mosul, Hisham Al-Hashemi, issued the order. The stated reason for the ban was to preserve the privacy and family-friendly nature of the public space. The posts indicate a move by local authorities to regulate public areas and enforce social norms.