Based on an analysis of 523 Facebook posts trending on October 22, 2025, Miqrab AI identified several key narratives dominating public discourse in Iraq. The most engaging topic was a statement from influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr calling for donations for Gaza. Domestic issues also featured prominently, including widespread reaction to a new government mandate requiring proof of utility payments for state services, and the assassination of a Baghdad provincial council member which led to several arrests. Regional political news, such as the appointment of a new Grand Mufti in Saudi Arabia, captured significant attention, while geopolitical tensions were evident in discussions about US pressure on Iraq to disarm Iranian-backed militias. Social media dynamics were also a focus, with an influencer reporting the government had banned his TikTok account, alongside a viral human-interest story about the ongoing search for a young man who drowned in the Tigris River.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Muqtada al-Sadr Calls for Donations for Gaza

The most impactful story of the day was a statement from cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, shared widely across his affiliated pages. The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 100%), Hussam alhaj (Post Impact: 19%), and Saraya al-Salam – Central Media Directorate (Post Impact: 5%) reported that al-Sadr posted on the platform “X” with the hashtags “#Thank_You_Gaza” and “#Thank_You_Egypt.” He called on the Iraqi people to collect monetary donations for the residents of Gaza, which would be delivered in coordination with Egypt. Al-Sadr urged the wealthy not to fall short in their contributions, describing it as “the least of faith for our brothers in Gaza Hashim.” He announced that the opportunity to donate would be available during the upcoming Friday prayers, organized by Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous in each province.

2. Public Reaction to Government’s New Utility Bill Requirement

A decision by the Iraqi Council of Ministers generated significant discussion and criticism. Haider Khalaf Ghazi (Post Impact: 44%) sarcastically posted, “Thank you, Mr. #President,” reporting that the government will no longer process any transaction in state departments without the citizen presenting receipts for water, electricity, phone, and sewage bills. This decision was linked to broader criticism of officials, particularly Nofal Abu Ragheef, the head of the Communications and Media Commission. Another post by Haider Khalaf Ghazi (Post Impact: 47%) and Ahmed Alwashah (Post Impact: 20%) referenced Abu Ragheef with the phrase, “Is it necessary to tie it to the staircase?” suggesting such measures are overly restrictive. In response to the criticism, Aliraqi Alaseel (Post Impact: 19%) quoted Abu Ragheef stating, “We will not allow hired pages to obstruct institutional organization.”

3. Saudi Arabia Appoints New Grand Mufti

News from Saudi Arabia garnered significant attention on Iraqi Facebook pages. Al-Khawa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 49%), Ahmed AlHamdani – Ahmed Al Hamdani (Post Impact: 10%), and Bab Al-Toob (Post Impact: 7%) all reported that a Royal Order was issued appointing Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Fawzan bin Abdullah Al-Fawzan as the new Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The appointment also includes his roles as Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars and President of the General Presidency for Scholarly Research and Ifta, with the rank of minister.

4. Assassination of Baghdad Council Member Safaa al-Mashhadani and Arrests

A major security incident in Baghdad was widely covered following the assassination of Safaa al-Mashhadani, a member of the Baghdad Provincial Council. Al-Khawa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 40%) reported that al-Mashhadani was killed when his car was blown up by an explosive device and noted that the Baghdad Operations Command classified the incident as a “criminal case and not a terrorist act.” Subsequently, pages like Support for Iraqi Security Forces (Post Impact: 7%) and Erbil Events (Post Impact: 4%) published a list of five individuals arrested in connection with the assassination. The lists named suspects including Omar Muthanna Abd al-Mun’im al-Mashhadani and Abdullah Abd al-Rahman al-Mashhadani, with some posts claiming the detainees were affiliated with the Tarmiyah PMF.

5. Influencer Haidar Al-Hamdani Reports His TikTok Account Was Banned by the Government

Social media personality Haidar Al-Hamdani announced to his followers that his TikTok account had been banned by the Iraqi government. In a short video reel posted on his Facebook page, Haidar Al-Hamdani (Post Impact: 52%) described the move as a “shocking action” and stated, “The Iraqi government decides to ban my account on the ‘TikTok’ platform.” The post itself, being the sole source of this news in the dataset, garnered high engagement, indicating significant interest in issues of online censorship and freedom of expression for influencers in Iraq.

6. The Search for Hussein, a Drowned Youth in the Tigris River

The tragic story of a young man named Hussein who drowned in the Tigris River in Baghdad’s Al-Kari’at area resonated deeply with social media users. Pages such as Iraq 24 (Post Impact: 32%) and Al-Iraq (Post Impact: 14%) shared emotional posts dedicated to his mother. The ongoing search efforts were a central theme, with Maher Muhi::Voice of the Homeland’s Protectors (Post Impact: 16%) reporting that a team of frogmen from the Umm Qasr Naval Command arrived in Baghdad to assist. Meanwhile, Khabar Ajel (Post Impact: 17%) shared a statement from a diver named Saad from Anbar, who was at the scene and clarified that only two bodies had been found, dismissing rumors of others, and describing the dangerous underwater conditions. Telescop Iraq (Post Impact: 22%) raised questions about the frequency of drownings in that specific location.

7. US Pressure on Iraq to Disarm Militias

Discussions surrounding US-Iraq relations focused on American pressure to disarm Iranian-backed militias. According to Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 14%), recent developments have left the Iraqi political system with two options: either take control and disarm the factions, or face a political and economic confrontation with the region and the West. This narrative was reinforced by Rusly Al-Maliki – Rusli Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 7%), who stated that the mission of the new US envoy from Trump is the “disarmament of the factions.” Ahmed AlHamdani – Ahmed Al Hamdani (Post Impact: 7%) reported that the US believes these militias are plundering Iraq’s resources for Iran and that Prime Minister Al-Sudani is hesitant to dismantle them for fear of sparking internal conflict.

8. Corruption Allegations Against Officials, Including from the Hikma Movement

A recurring theme involved accusations of corruption against current and former public officials. The page Ahmed Alwashah (Post Impact: 20%) published a post listing several figures associated with the Hikma (Wisdom) movement, claiming they are “men whom history will not forget” for their alleged misdeeds. The list included former Basra governor Majed Al-Nasrawi, accused of stealing funds and fleeing to Iran; former Wasit governor Mahmoud Mulla Talal, who was reportedly caught taking a bribe and sentenced to six years; and former Dhi Qar governor Murtadha Al-Ibrahimi, who was allegedly involved in a public scandal. The post also included Nofal Abu Ragheef, the current head of the Communications and Media Commission.

9. Viral Story of Iraqi Woman Moving Her Entire Home to Canada

A viral human-interest story about an Iraqi academic named Nabaa Salim Al-Barrak captured the imagination of social media users. As reported by Maysaloon Hadi (Post Impact: 18%) and Baghdad (Post Impact: 8%), Mrs. Al-Barrak packed the entire contents of her family home in Baghdad’s Palestine Street into 14 shipping containers and moved them to her new home in Canada. The items reportedly included furniture, antiques, carpets, artworks, and even architectural elements like traditional Arabesque windows. The posts describe her new home in Canada as being designed to replicate their Baghdad house, creating a space filled with “overwhelming nostalgia for the distant Iraq.” The story was framed as a poignant example of the Iraqi diaspora’s efforts to preserve their heritage and identity abroad while also highlighting the loss of educated elites from the country.

10. Promotion of Prime Minister Al-Sudani’s Public Image and Activities

Several pages focused on promoting the public image and recent activities of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani. Kolna Al-Iraq (Post Impact: 18%) highlighted a positive assessment of his foreign policy, quoting MP Alia Nassif as saying, “Iraq was not visible on the map, now it is visible thanks to Al-Sudani’s policy.” Pages like Al-Qasr Al-Hukoumi (Post Impact: 12%) shared videos of what it described as a “terrifying crowd” gathering to support the Prime Minister in Tikrit, countering claims that he lacks popular support. Other posts from the same page framed the warm reception in Tikrit as a sign of national unity. Additionally, his official page, Al-Engineer Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani (Post Impact: 10%), shared his promises of development and stability to the people of Salah al-Din.