Based on an analysis of (469) Facebook posts trending on December 24, 2025, Miqrab AI identified several key narratives dominating online discussions in Iraq. The most prominent theme involved forceful rejections of diplomatic normalization from both religious leader Muqtada al-Sadr and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, seemingly in response to remarks by Patriarch Louis Sako. Security issues were also central, with significant engagement around the discovery of the body of a notorious “death squad” leader in Basra. Other trending topics included legal actions against a member of parliament, the disappointing performance of an Iraqi football club, public appeals concerning a missing student, and widespread criticism of the government’s economic policies, particularly new taxes.

Today’s Top 10 Facebook Trends in Iraq:

1. Sadr and Sudani Condemn Calls for Normalization

A statement by Chaldean Patriarch Louis Sako prompted strong reactions from Iraq’s top political and religious figures regarding normalization with Israel. The Private Office of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (Post Impact: 71%) shared a post from Muqtada al-Sadr on “X” calling on official bodies to act against anyone promoting normalization, which he deemed a crime punishable by law. Similarly, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani was widely quoted across pages like The Government Palace (Post Impact: 4%) and Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 2%) stating, “Normalization is a term not in the Iraqi dictionary because it is linked to an occupying entity.” This unified stance was also reported by Al Jazeera – Iraq (Post Impact: 4%) and Hisham Ali :: Husham Ali (Post Impact: 3%), framing the comments as a definitive rejection of any moves toward establishing ties.

2. Body of “Death Squad” Leader Found in Basra

Multiple pages reported on the discovery of the body of Ahmed Twaisa near Shalamcheh in Basra province. Al-Khawa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 22%) stated that Twaisa was the leader of the so-called “Death Squad,” which was implicated in numerous crimes including the assassination of former Basra governor Mohammed al-Waeli, as well as activists and journalists. The page noted his body was found with gunshot wounds in a sewage canal near Shatt al-Arab. Other outlets like Al Hadath Iraq The Iraqi Event (Post Impact: 10%) and Steven Nabil (Post Impact: 9%) confirmed the news, with pages such as Ahmad Alwashah (Post Impact: 2%) expressing that “the blood of the innocent will pursue” such individuals.

3. Arrest Warrant Issued for MP Hussein Al-Ankoushi

A legal development gaining significant traction was the issuance of an arrest warrant for Hussein Al-Ankoushi, a Member of Parliament from Diwaniyah. The page Al-Khawa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 22%) reported that the Third Karkh Investigation Court issued the warrant under Article 372/5 of the Iraqi Penal Code. The charges are based on accusations that Al-Ankoushi insulted the judiciary, the religious authority (Marja’iyya), and the Sadrist leader Muqtada al-Sadr. Corroborating the controversy, Shabakat Laysh .? (Post Impact: 1%) shared a statement from the Eamar and Tanmiya coalition, which condemned the alleged insults and called on judicial authorities to investigate and take legal action if the accusations are proven true.

4. Al-Nassr Defeats Al-Zawraa in AFC Champions League

Iraqi football fans expressed disappointment after Al-Zawraa SC’s heavy defeat to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr FC in the AFC Champions League. Al-Khawa Al-Nadhifa (Post Impact: 15%) reported the final score as a decisive 5-1 loss for the Iraqi side. The page Baghdad (Post Impact: 3%) used the result, along with another recent 5-goal loss suffered by goalkeeper Ahmed Basil, to send a message to the Iraqi Football Association. The page urged the federation to reconsider the national team’s goalkeeping options ahead of the final World Cup qualification match to avoid relying on excuses like “what God has willed has happened.”

5. Public Appeal for Missing Wasit Student Islam Karim

A social media campaign emerged to find Islam Karim, a high school student from the Aziziyah district of Wasit province who has been missing for two days. Pages like Latest Iraqi Events (Post Impact: 12%) and Eyes of Iraq (Post Impact: 4%) shared her photo and story, explaining that she disappeared after leaving a private math tutorial. The posts convey the family’s distress and plead with the public and security forces to assist in the search. The page Nafs Iraq (Post Impact: 5%) also shared a direct appeal from the father, including his phone number for anyone with information.

6. Criticism of Al-Sudani Government’s Economic Policies

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani’s government faced criticism over its economic management and new taxes. A reel posted by Haidar Khalaf Ghazi (Post Impact: 15%) directly claimed that the government is imposing new fees and taxes on citizens. The page The Authentic Iraqi (Post Impact: 4%) amplified this sentiment by quoting political analyst Ghalib al-Shabandar, who asserted that al-Sudani had “ruined the country.” Adding to the criticism, Rusly Al-Maliki – Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 1%) reported on a Cabinet decision to reinstate a 20% tax on mobile phone and internet top-up cards, concluding, “And so, you learn how bankrupt the state is due to mismanagement.”

7. Iraqi Army Conducts “Golden Falcon 8” Military Exercise

The Iraqi military’s readiness was on display as multiple pages covered the “Golden Falcon 8” exercise. The official page of the Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army (Post Impact: 2%) reported that Chief of Staff General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah was supervising the tactical war game at the Staff College. The exercise aimed to train commanders on modern warfare tactics and included representatives from the Peshmerga and the NATO mission in Iraq. The page Maher Mouhi::Voice of the Nation’s Protectors (Post Impact: 9%) described the event as showcasing a “formidable presence of Iraqi army leaders” wearing helmets and armor, which it interpreted as “a message to everyone that the Iraqi army is on high alert.”

8. PM Al-Sudani Attends Christmas Mass in Baghdad

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani’s participation in Christmas celebrations was covered by his official page and others. The Engineer Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani (Post Impact: 4%) page shared videos of his attendance at masses in Sayedat al-Najat and Mar Yousef churches in Baghdad. In his address, the Prime Minister emphasized the deep roots of Christians in Iraq, honored the victims of the 2010 Sayedat al-Najat attack, and reiterated that national unity is strengthened by diversity. The page Baghdad (Post Impact: 2%) also shared photos from the mass, highlighting the large public attendance and wishing Christians a Merry Christmas.

9. Calls to Protect Migratory Birds Amid Poaching Concerns

The issue of poaching migratory birds, particularly flamingos, in the Iraqi marshes drew attention from environmental advocates. The page Abu Al-Arif (Post Impact: 4%) explained the ecological importance of flamingos to the marshes and condemned the ongoing illegal hunting, which it said turns a protected species into a meal. The page questioned whether the problem stemmed from weak laws or a lack of public awareness. Echoing these concerns, MP Dr. Haider Al-Salami (Post Impact: 2%) lamented the “extermination” of these birds and revealed that a law to join an international agreement for their protection has been stalled in parliament since 2014.

10. Debate Over Baghdad’s Culling of Stray Dogs

The Baghdad Municipality’s policy of culling stray dogs sparked a debate on animal welfare and public health. Following an announcement that 19,000 dogs had been killed, the page Shakir Jawad (Post Impact: 3%), identifying the author as a public health expert, argued that killing is an “ineffective and inhumane” policy. Instead, he advocated for the scientifically-backed “Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (CNVR)” method recommended by the World Health Organization. Similarly, the page Babel Gate of the Gods (Post Impact: 3%) called on authorities to solve the problem with vaccination rather than “inhumane mass extermination operations,” stating that Iraq, as the cradle of civilization, should uphold humane values.